Dubai: The connections of Japanese dirt champion Vermilion are hoping they can surprise Curlin, the red-hot favourite in tomorrow's $6 million Dubai World Cup (Gr 1), by applying one of the oldest tricks in the world.
Trainer Sei Ishizaka has saddled Vermilion to four Group 1 wins, including the Japan Cup Dirt in 2007, and believes that his horse will have the best chance to win if he stalked Curlin in the 2,000-metre contest.
"We know that Curlin is the best horse in the race, perhaps the best horse in the world," Ishizaka told Gulf News yesterday.
"So we will try to be as close to him as possible and then throw down the challenge. Who knows what will happen then."
Ishizaka also rates Vermilion as a much better horse than he was when running fourth to Invasor in last year's Dubai World Cup.
'Best dirt horse'
"He's twice improved and more professional," said the trainer. "He's Japan's best dirt horse and I would like to believe that he has a much better chance this year, than he did have last year."
Ishizaka reported that Yutaka Take, who rides Vermilion in tomorrow's race issued an upbeat bulletin after partnering the six-year-old in an impressive work out on the dirt track on Wednesday.
"He seems to have travelled well and settled down well in Dubai," said the trainer.
"Yutaka worked yesterday morning and was very pleased."
Vermilion, whose Group 1 wins in Japan include the February Stakes (2008), JBC Classic (2007) and Kawasaki Kinen (2007), was timed in fractions of 12.20secs, 11.87, 12.07, 11.62, 11.71 and 12.00 for the final six furlongs.
"He did a good job. When I last rode him at Kyoto Racecourse, his performance was very good, but I am very satisfied with this work," said Take, who won the $5 million Dubai Duty Free (Gr 1) 12 months ago aboard Admire Moon.
"He has travelled a long way and has been in quite different surroundings from back home in Japan, but he is in a pretty good form, if anything he is more relaxed here. He usually does not jump well from the gate, so his race will very much depend on how he starts here."
