Vermilion wins JCD in record time

Vermilion, ridden by Yutaka Take, produced a great stretch run to win the Japan Cup Dirt(g1) at Tokyo on Saturday afternoon. Sending off the 2.3 favorite, the 5-year-old horse came home in 2 minutes 6.70 seconds for the new course record of 2,100 meters on dirt.
Field Rouge, a 1 1/4-length behind, was second place. Another 3 1/2-length back Sunrise Bacchus was third with Meisho Toko another 1 1/4-length further back in fourth.

US hope Student Council(USA), the 7.2 third favorite, finished 8th, while Jack Sullivan(USA) and Kandidate(GB) finished 12th and 15th respectively.

Outside 200 meters from home, Field Rouge drew away from the pack on the inside and was going well. But Vermilion with a great gallop was cruising up on the outside to challenge, and the gap narrowed as he made at every stride. Obviously, the stronger stride of the two was Vermillion. When Take asked him for the final effort, he just flew past Field Rouge.

Yutaka Take has now ridden the fourth Japan Cup Dirt winner, while trainer Sei Ishizaka won his second JCD victory following Alondite last year.

Vermilion, by El Condor Pasa out of the Sunday Silence mare Scarlet Lady, raced under the color of Sunday Racing Co. Ltd. with a record of 20-9-3-0. His career earnings improved to 571+ million yen. Northern Farm was the breeder of the darkbay horse.