by Jenny Blandford

Vermilion, the Japan Racing Association’s 2007 champion dirt horse, kicked off his six-year-old campaign with an impressive 1 ¾-length win in the $1,748,000 (201,020,000 yen) February Stakes (Jpn-G1) on Sunday at Tokyo racecourse. 

The victory was the fourth consecutive win for the El Condor Pasa horse, who is unbeaten since finishing fourth in last year’s Emirates Airline Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1), which was won by Invasor (Arg).

Vermilion subsequently won the Japan Cup Dirt (Jpn-G1) on November 24 and entered off a four-length win in the Tokyo Daishoten on December 29 at Ohi Racecourse for trainer Sei Ishizaka.

“Vermilion will head to Dubai for his second attempt in the Dubai World Cup, and I believe that the horse is superior to what he was 12 months ago,” said Shunsuke Yoshida, chief executive officer for Sunday Racing, the syndicate that owns Vermilion.

Sent off as the 2.40-to-1 favorite in the 16-horse field, Vermilion raced three wide in sixth under Japanese champion rider Yutaka Take as Victory set the early pace. Vermilion steadily advanced turning for home, took command with 300 meters (1.48 furlongs) remaining, and drew away to a clear win. He completed the 1,600-meter (7.95-furlong) race in 1:35.30 on a track rated as fast.

Blue Concorde, who finished second to Sunrise Bacchus in last year’s February Stakes, rallied strongly in the stretch for second. Third-place finisher Wild Wonder was another two lengths back.

Field Rouge, the 5-to-1 second choice, broke awkwardly and was pulled up in the early stages. HeField Rouge, the 5-to-1 second choice, broke awkwardly and was pulled up in the early stages. He reportedly suffered a shoulder injury.

A half brother to multiple stakes winner Saqalat, Vermilion improved to 11 wins in 22 career starts. He is out of the winning Sunday Silence mare Scarlet Lady.

Jenny Blandford is a Thoroughbred Times assistant daily news editor