Apprentice jockey Muhammad Bahauddin Sharudin went through a baptism of fire in his debut meeting at Sungai Besi here today before he found success in his last ride of the afternoon.

The experience of 80 barrier trials did not quite prepare him for what was to come.

Bahauddin finished last in his very ride on Golden Peach and he did slightly better in his next, beating one home on Smart Racer . He again brought up the rear in his next action on SMART ERA.

But it ended well for the brother of 2021 champion apprentice jockey Uzair.

Mystery Power , who managed just one win in 42 runs in Singapore, has been consistent since crossing over the causeway to join Charles Leck, a one-time master of Bahauddin.

Despite a win, two thirds and a fourth in as many starts in Malaysia, MYSTERY POWER was lukewarm in the betting in the The Exchange 106 @ TRX Stakes (Class 5 – 1800m) race, with DARCY – a first-up winner in Malaysia three weeks ago – the odds-on favourite at RM9.

READY TO SEVENLUCK set a scorching pace and Bahauddin had MYSTERY POWER running fourth on the rails. With the leader some eight or nine lengths at the halfway mark, some runners began to move forward.

MYSTERY POWER lost his position but Bahauddin kept his cool and stuck to the rails. When the field caught up with READY TO SEVENLUCK at the top of the straight, MYSTERY POWER found himself behind a wall of horses.

The early effort by READY TO SEVENLUCK took it toll and SIR ELTON raced past him at the 400m with DARCY looming dangerously next. MYSTERY POWER was looking for a run just behind them.

SIR ELTON drifted out just a little thereafter and it gave MYSTERY POWER enough room to go through on his inside.

MSYTERY POWER dashed to the front at the 200m with DARCY and D'GREAT SWIFT just on his outside almost in a line. But MYSERY POWER proved too strong in the rum home to win by one and a quarter lengths.

"Thank you to the owner and trainer for giving me this opportunity," said Bahauddin.

"I never felt so happy as I feel right now. The next time I will try my best again and improve in my riding."

Ipoh-born Bahauddin joined a vocational school in Pahang at the age of 13 and majored in equine studies. After completing his education, he started to work in the stables of Lawson Moy together with his brother Uzair who was also his inspiration.

At 20, Bahauddin enrolled into the Selangor Turf Club Apprentice School with Charles Leck as his employing trainer.

Bahauddin was transferred to Joseph Leck when the latter set up his stables recently