Ishizaka stays buoyant about Vermilion

Dubai: Top Japanese trainer Sei Ishizaka is confident his multiple Group 1 winner Vermilion will continue where he left of in the Japan Cup Dirt (Gr 1) last year.

Vermilion has returned for a second shot at the Dubai World Cup (Gr 1) after his fourth-place finish last year behind Invasor.

"I'm convinced we are here to get a better position than last year," Ishizaka told Gulf News as he watched his horse train at the Nad Al Sheba racetrack yesterday.

After a disappointing World Cup run here last year, Vermilion has shown the temperament for bigger things. His most recent success came at the February Stakes back home.

But the six-year-old also has the JBC Classic, the Kawasaki Kinen and the Aston Machan crowns to his name last season.

He won the Japan Cup Dirt on November 24 and followed that up with a four-length triumph in the Tokyo Daishoten one month later at Ohi Racecourse. He has won 11 of 22 lifetime starts.

The Japanese runner will be aiming to continue his unbeaten run with a fifth Group 1 victory in a row.

But it is his success in the Japan Cup Dirt that Ishizaka is pinning his hopes on. "That win in the Japan Cup Dirt has given him a lot of confidence," Ishizaka said.

Better character

The past 12 months have also been important in the development of the horse. Not only has he grown in confidence with each of his wins, but has shown a much better character.

"And we expect him to ride this confidence wave and end in a better position this year than last year," he added. Vermilion was bred by Northern Farm.

Yesterday morning, he was cantered for one lap over the dirt track under regular exercise rider Shinji Furukawa. "I've not seen him for a week since he left Japan, but he seems to be in a good form and looks good.

His jockey Yutaka Take will be riding him in a fast workout tomorrow morning," Ishizaka said.

Work rider Shinji Furukawa said: "As for the travel to Dubai, it took a bit longer because the flight was a little late, but the horse did not have any problems.