TOKYO BLOSSOM WINS IN A THRILLER

By Graham Potter | Saturday, July 30, 2022

The Tony and Maddysen Sears training partnership ended off the 2021/22 racing season with a flourish winning two races at two different venues on July 30 and they did so by pulling two runners out if the hat who were winning for the first time.

First on the scoreboard on the day was Tokyo Blossom, a Maurice filly who was having only her second career start when she went out to contest a QTIS Two-Year-Old Maiden Handicap over 1200m at the Gold Coast.

Her first run had come seventeen days earlier when she was sent straight to town by the Sears team and finished unplaced behind the more than useful and more experienced Billionaire Baby at Doomben over 1200m. (Billionaire Baby would win again next time out to frank that form).

Jumping at a starting price of $5.50 with Lani Allen in the saddle, Tokyo Blossom was slightly hampered at the start, but Allen still ensured that the Sears’ trained runner was able to settle comfortably enough, racing in sixth place in the early part, a little over four lengths off the lead.

Tokyo Blossom began pulling a little bit in the early part of the sweep to the turn when a rival ranged up along her inside, but Allen quickly gave Tokyo Blossom her head and allowed her to start to making ground, albeit now switched out some four wide … by the time the field straightened for home … still with some five lengths to make up.

Allen had to switch Tokyo Blossom wider still to get a clear run in the early part of the home straight, a move which left her over six lengths off the race lead with just 250m left to run.

A win basically looked out of reach, but Tokyo Blossom changed gears inside the final 200m and started to roar home. It still looked a bridge too far though … even at the 100m where Starry Eyes ($9.50) was kicking on in front and Mishani Mobster ($15) was arriving with a late flourish, but Tokyo Blossom kept coming anyway.

With 75m left to run Tokyo Blossom was still fifth … still two-and-a-half lengths back … but was now really getting up a head of steam.

Talk about hitting the line hard!

As Starry Eyes and Mishani Mobster approached the line together, seemingly fighting out the finish, Tokyo Blossom grabbed them both in the very last stride to get the win by the narrowest of margins in a blanket finish.

To have shown, not only race winning ability, but also that level of commitment in only her second start while still very much learning her trade speaks volumes for Tokyo Blossom’s early potential.

This was a good win.

More articles