JAPANESE EMPEROR IMPRESSES ON DEBUT

Mike Moroney has always had a good opinion of Japanese Emperor and the three-year-old made an excellent first impression with victory at Sandown today.

Japanese Emperor was taken back to last by Mott from the outside barrier in the 12-horse field before switching off heels and flashing past his rivals with an impressive turn of foot, going from eighth to first between the 150 and 50-metre marks winning the $55,000 Ladbroke It Maiden Plate (1200m) by two lengths going away.

"We drew wide, I elected to ride him quiet, I went back to the fence and just put him to sleep for most of the race," Mott said.

"When I was able to angle him out in the straight, he was a little bit awkward trying to get him out into the clear.

"There was one horse (Sweet 'N' Spicy) to my outside that I had to manoeuvre half a horse to get myself out into the clear but my horse being a first starter didn't know how to do that.

"I just edged one out of the way and as soon as I did that, he threw his head up and he wanted to run back in to where he was originally.

"It just made it awkward but once he got the gap he really exploded. The stable really liked the horse but probably more so over more ground with time, he couldn't have been more impressive today.” Mott said.

Japanese Emperor was purchased for NZ$360,000 from the first book of last year's New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Sale and is entered for the Caulfield Guineas.

"I know Michael and Paul (Moroney) loved this horse and had to go over budget to secure him but you can see why, he's a lovely horse and he looks to have a bright future.” Ballymore Stables Racing Manager Anthony Feroce said.