Du Plessis back from Japan

Mark Du Plessis had to work overtime to make an impression in Japan and his efforts were rewarded with a memorable riding stint.

The internationallysuccessful New Zealand jockey returned home on Thursday after completing his initial two month contract, which was subsequently extended by three weeks.

‘‘It was very hard at first, but I did expect that and I was thrown all the bones no one else wanted,’’ Du Plessis said.

‘‘I was lucky though and Tommy Sasada’s father put me on one that got up and won and that really got me going. I rode a winner every week in June after that.’’

The Kiwi connection benefited Du Plessis as Sasada served his apprenticeship with central districts trainer David Haworth and rode more than 100 winners before he returned to Japan in 2009.

‘‘It was a great experience and I met a lot of good people and it was a pleasure to be there,’’ Du Plessis said.

He was based at Ritto, home to the Japan Racing Association’s training centre, with leading trainer Katsuhiko Sumi who quinellaed the 2006 Melbourne Cup with Delta Blues and Pop Rock.

‘‘He’s the one everyone looks up to there,’’ Du Plessis said.

‘‘The training methods were a lot different as well and they do have the very best horses in the world.

‘‘They do long, slow warm-ups before their gallops and I was doing three a morning and I was on their backs for at least 45 minutes each.

‘‘They do three rounds of trotting, four rounds of cantering and then go back and walk for another 20 minutes or so before they gallop.’’

Du Plessis ended his stint with five winners, a more than respectable total for a first visit and in a country that races exclusively on weekends.

Du Plessis will have a family holiday in Rarotonga before resuming his New Zealand career on August 13.

Racing Desk. – NZ