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http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/international-news/2007/November/24/Vermilion-wins-Japan-Cup-Dirt-Student-Council-eighth.aspx
Posted: Saturday, November 24, 2007 2:13 PM
Vermilion wins Japan Cup Dirt, Student Council eighth
by Mike Curry
Vermilion closed with a rush from the center of the stretch and powered clear in the closing strides to prevail by 1 1/4 lengths as the favorite in the $2,296,296 Japan Cup Dirt (Jpn-G1) on Saturday at Tokyo racecourse.
Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) winner Student Council was rated in fifth by jockey Richard Migliore, but did not accelerate in the stretch and faded to finish eighth.
Vermilion, fourth in the Emirates Airline Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) on March 31 at Nad al Sheba racecourse, returned from an extended layoff on October 31 with a four-length win under Yutaka Take in the JBC Classic. Partnered with Take again in the Japan Cup Dirt, the five-year-old El Condor Pasa horse delivered a performance befitting the 2.10-to-1 favorite.
“The JBC Classic was his first start after his return from Dubai and, according to the stable staff, he was still not back to his best form though he won the race very strongly,” Take said. “I had ridden him a number of times since his debut, and although he is an honest horse and an easy ride, he has been troubled by leg problems and had been difficult to condition to his best, therefore unable to perform his best in some of his starts. I feel that he was at his strongest and up to his true form in this race.”
Eishin Lombard broke alertly and seized command in the 2,100-meter (10.43-furlong) race for three-year-olds and older. Blue Concorde and Kandidate also were quickly into stride and pressed the pacesetter through strong fractions.
Vermilion saved ground early while racing in 11th in the 16-horse field under Take while last year’s third-place finisher Field Rouge was positioned in eighth. Kandidate gained the lead leaving the turn but was soon inhaled by Field Rouge, who surged into contention from the inside approaching the lane.
Student Council and Vermilion moved into striking distance from the outside, but the North American invader was unable to keep pace with the victor who responded willingly when roused and reeled in runner-up Field Rouge with a powerful closing kick to prevail in 2:06.70 on a track rated as good. The winning time eclipsed the previous track record of 2:08 for the renovated main track at Tokyo set by Kane Hekili in the 2006 Japan Cup Dirt.
“I am truly happy that he was finally able to prove best among dirt horses in the Japan Cup Dirt,” said winning trainer Sei Ishizaka, who trains Vermilion for owner Sunday Racing Co. “[Vermilion is] still a horse that has room for even more improvement, he has provided me with a dream to seek a higher level of competition perhaps on an international stage.”
Sunrise Bacchus closed from near the back of the pack to finish third, 3 1/2 lengths behind Field Rouge.
Student Council entered off consecutive victories in the Pacific Classic on August 19 at Del Mar and the Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap (G2) on September 29.
Owner Ro Parra of Millennium Farms said leading up to the race that he believed the deep main track at Tokyo would suit Student Council, a five-year-old by Kingmambo. As the Pacific Classic winner, Student Council was eligible for a bonus of $833,300 if he won the Japan Cup Dirt.
“I was able to run him as planned until the last corner, but he had nothing left in the homestretch,” Migliore said.
Bred in Japan by Northern Farm, Vermilion is out of the winning Sunday Silence mare Scarlet Lady. He improved to nine wins in 20 career starts.