Vela Azul

Vela Azul (ヴェラアズール, foaled January 19, 2017) is a retired Japanese thoroughbred racehorse.

The horse's name is Spanish for "blue sail", and was derived from his dam's name.

Up to 4 year old season (2021)
The horse underwent surgery at age one to remove bone fragments from his left fetlock, and suffered from osselet on his left forearm at age two. As a result, the horse was not entered in to any races until March 20 of 2020, where he finished 2nd at a 1800m long debut race held on the dirt course of the Hanshin Racecourse, with Yuichi Fukunaga as his jockey. According to the horse's trainer,, Vela Azul was entered in to dirt races initially due to concerns of his legs as the horse had at one point weighed nearly 600 kilograms. After several starts, Vela Azul won his first race on June 28 where he won an 1800 m long dirt race at Hanshin with Damian Lane as his jockey. He was able to win his second race at an allowance race on January 10, 2021, held at Chukyo Racecourse. After this win however, he was unable to win any more races for the rest of the 2021 season.

2022: 5 year old season


Watanabe had talks with Carrot Farm that he wished to send the horse to a turf race, but "he lost a good timing to send the horse to such race as the horse did pretty well at dirt races", by which point the horse had already turned 5 years old. He was initially set to start the season in the Yahagigawa Tokubetsu (Dirt 1800m) on March 19, but 36 horses had registered to run in the race, meaning the horse would be barred from running due to there being too many horses. Because of this, and with the horse's condition improving, the horse was entered in to a turf race for the first time, which was the Awaji Tokubetsu (Turf 2600m) held the same day. The horse won the race, which also happened to be his first win in 14 months. Following this, the horse was sent to turf races. After finishing third on the Sunshine Stakes (2500m) and Ryokufu Stakes (2400m), the horse won the June Stakes held over a course of 2400m at Tokyo Racecourse.

After a 4 months break, the horse was entered in to his first graded race with, the Kyoto Daishoten, held on October 10. The race started with taking the lead, with the horse running from behind the pack as, , and  trailing the runner. As the pack compacted around the 4th corner, Matsuyama whipped to urge the horse to push up, and the horse took the lead, winning the race with a 2 and a half length lead and covering the last three furlongs in 33.2 seconds. This marked the horse's first grade race victory.

On November 27, the horse was entered in to the Japan Cup with Ryan Moore as his jockey. The race was seen as a three-way race between the Derby and Dubai Sheema Classic winner Shahryar,, who finished the Tenno Sho (Autumn) the month before at 3rd place, Kyoto Daishoten-winner. The race, while light on Japanese trained horses due to Titleholder and Do Deuce competing in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe as well as Tenno Sho (Autumn) winner Equinox heading straight to the Arima Kinen, saw most of the betting being placed on Japanese trained horses.

The race started with Fukushima Kinen winner Unicorn Lion taking the lead and the rest of the horses trailing the runner, where Vela Azul was placed in the middle. At around the halfway point Uberleben started to advance, and by the 4th corner Danon Beluga and Shahryar started to pursue, but Vela Azul himself was still in the pack. At around the final 300m mark the horse managed to cut through an opening in the pack, pushing himself up to take the lead against and Sharyar, finishing with a 3/4 length lead against the latter. After Shahryar and Weltreisende, Daring Tact and Danon Beluga followed. This marked the 17th consecutive year that a horse trained in Japan won the Japan Cup, and a third consecutive win for the horse. This victory also marked the first Grade I victory for both the horse, trainer Watanabe, and for any given Eishin Flash progeny.

The horse was later sent to the Arima Kinen, but finished 10th behind Equinox.

2023: 6 year old season
Vela Azul started his 6 year old season abroad with the Dubai World Cup, but finished at 13th place. After returning to Japan, the horse was entered in to the Takarazuka Kinen, but finished 8th. After a summer break, he was entered in to the Kyoto Daishoten once again but finished 7th. The horse was then entered in to the Japan Cup, with Ryan Moore initially planned to ride him like last year. However, as Moore returned to England following an unrelated injury at a race in Kyoto resulted in Hollie Doyle assuming the role of jockey. As her husband, Tom Marquand, was also due to ride Studley in the same race, this became the first instance a married couple rode in the same Grade I race in JRA history. The horse finished 7th behind Equinox.

Following the Japan Cup, the horse was sent to pasture to recuperate at in Shiga Prefecture, where a swelling in the left forearm was noted. The horse was given an ultrasound test, where the horse was diagnosed with tendinitis. As the horse was diagnosed that it would take at least a year before the horse could be raced again, it was announced that the horse will be retired from racing on December 6. It was also announced that, following his retirement, Vela Azul would stand stud at the in Niikappu, Hokkaido.

Racing form
The following form is based on information available on JBIS Search, netkeiba.com, and Total Performance Data.

Legend: