Mark Du Plessis
Trish Dunnell
Mark Du Plessis is looking forward to turning up the heat on his riding career.
The Karaka-based jockey has earned himself a riding stint in Japan and a racing industry that he is already familiar with.
"I'm going there on the 3rd of May and will be back on the 5th of July," Du Plessis said. "It's going to be nice to get out there and miss part of the winter here.
"I've been to Japan before when I was riding Green Birdie, but that was for a couple of weekends and not a stint."
Du Plessis won Singapore's Gr.1 KrisFlyer International Sprint aboard the New Zealand-bred Green Birdie in 2010 and later that year they finished runner-up in the Gr.2 Hanshin Centaur Stakes and were seventh in the Gr.1 Nakayama Sprinters' Stakes.
"I had been contacted last year about riding in Japan, but I was out then with my shoulder and they said when I had been back riding for three or four months they would ring me again," Du Plessis said.
The 40-year-old will be based at Ritto, home to the Japan Racing Association's training centre and the base of leading trainer Katsuhiko Sumii.
"He has asked if he can use me as much as he can so that's a big positive," Du Plessis said.
Sumii is internationally known as the trainer of Delta Blues and Pop Rock, who quinellaed the 2006 Melbourne Cup.
Meanwhile, Du Plessis is hopeful of adding to his New Zealand Group One record in the Manco Easter Stakes before he goes.
"Nothing is confirmed yet, but if Soubrettes runs then she's the horse I would like to be on," he said.
Du Plessis was aboard the South Island mare last time out when she overcame a check to finish well for third in the Gr.1 NZ Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes at Te Aroha. - NZ Racing Desk.
The Karaka-based jockey has earned himself a riding stint in Japan and a racing industry that he is already familiar with.
"I'm going there on the 3rd of May and will be back on the 5th of July," Du Plessis said. "It's going to be nice to get out there and miss part of the winter here.
"I've been to Japan before when I was riding Green Birdie, but that was for a couple of weekends and not a stint."
Du Plessis won Singapore's Gr.1 KrisFlyer International Sprint aboard the New Zealand-bred Green Birdie in 2010 and later that year they finished runner-up in the Gr.2 Hanshin Centaur Stakes and were seventh in the Gr.1 Nakayama Sprinters' Stakes.
"I had been contacted last year about riding in Japan, but I was out then with my shoulder and they said when I had been back riding for three or four months they would ring me again," Du Plessis said.
The 40-year-old will be based at Ritto, home to the Japan Racing Association's training centre and the base of leading trainer Katsuhiko Sumii.
"He has asked if he can use me as much as he can so that's a big positive," Du Plessis said.
Sumii is internationally known as the trainer of Delta Blues and Pop Rock, who quinellaed the 2006 Melbourne Cup.
Meanwhile, Du Plessis is hopeful of adding to his New Zealand Group One record in the Manco Easter Stakes before he goes.
"Nothing is confirmed yet, but if Soubrettes runs then she's the horse I would like to be on," he said.
Du Plessis was aboard the South Island mare last time out when she overcame a check to finish well for third in the Gr.1 NZ Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes at Te Aroha. - NZ Racing Desk.