Japan Cup hero Vela Azul has been a revelation since switching from dirt to turf this year.
Remarkably the 5yo entire made his first 16 starts on dirt, winning just twice.
Having his first run on the grass in March this year, Vela Azul has won four and finished third twice in six starts.
The Japan Cup winner continues the remarkable success of the Kingmambo line in Japan, a cause championed by the remarkable King Kamehameha.
.By contrast, sons of Kingmambo barely created a ripple in Australia, and it was not for want of trying.
Vela Azul is a son of the Japanese Derby winner Eishin Flash, whose English 2000 Guineas-winning sire King’s Best (USA) failed to sire a stakes-winner from the 245 foals produced in three seasons in Australia.
A half-brother to legendary blue hen Urban Sea, King’s Best (USA) covered plenty of ground in his stallion career.
He shuttled to Australia from Ireland and spent time in France and Argentina before earning a pension in Japan in 2019.
The son of Kingmambo sired eight Group 1 winners led by Epsom Derby (G1) and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Workforce (who would join his sire in Japan).
King’s Best (USA) mares are making a mark around the world, and his daughter Mrs Windsor is the dam of Group 1 Schweppes Oaks and Group 1 Queensland Oaks heroine, Egg Tart.
Vela Azul is the best of five winners from seven to race for the Kurofune mare Vela Blanca a half-sister to the Champion 3YO Filly in Japan in 2011, Aventura (Jungle Pocket), and the Champion 2YO Filly in Japan in 2007, Tall Poppy (Jungle Pocket).
Vela Azul joins Chrono Genesis (Bago), Normcore (Harbinger), Stunning Rose (King Kamehameha), and Lei Papale (Deep Impact), as Group 1 winners out of Kurofune mares.
Kurofune (JPN) was slated to shuttle to Arrowfield Stud alongside his sire French Deputy (USA) in 2003.
He was to stand for a fee of $16,500 but did not make the trip.
May have missed a trick there, as he is a highly successful stallion.
The sire of the white wonder Sodashi has strong ties to Australasia. His stakes-winning dam Blue Avenue is a daughter of Classic Go Go, a son of Golden Slipper winner Pago Pago.
Kurofune’s fourth dam is the Great Northern Oaks winner Catania (Pride Of Kildare), a half-sister to AJC Derby winner Prince Grant and the triple Guineas winner Tawhiao.
