Maiden Matters

The corresponding meeting last year, like today, opened with a 2yo race over 1200m. An unheralded Choisir colt named Japonisme had shown pace in a fast heat at his only trial, and this had attracted my attention. The ensuing betting saw only marginal interest and he jumped at 20/1. With J Cassidy aboard, Japonisme raced in the lead, kept away from inferior going by the underneath Tempt Me Not, then kicked strongly in the straight until bloused by the seasoned local filly Look To The Stars. Beaten but marked with talent.

Fast forward four weeks to a Rosehill midweek fixture where Japonisme faced the starter for the third time. Subsequent to his debut, he had failed to make an impression on the then highly regarded Redzel, again at Warwick Farm, but now he lined up at home for the first time. Hard in the market, Japonisme played cut-throat in the lead with Redzel’s stablemate who was blinkered and jockeyed up, both leaders battling strongly until fading out of the finish.

Japonisme headed to the paddock, and a date with the Vet.

He returned in full bloom, reeling off four consecutive victories, his preparation culminating in a fifth win, down the straight in a Group One against his peers.

Japonisme’s adversary on that sullen Wednesday at Rosehill, still awaits his maiden victory. After two disappointing preparations, Intrusion has also faced the scalpel and comes out as a gelding in the two-forty-five today. Hailing from a yard partial to the “fresh-up”, it’s make or break time.

Photo is courtesy of Owen Burrows from “Pictureform”