Making his debut in Sunday's Race 6 at Kyoto Racecourse (2000m turf), Vulture Star is a 2-year-old colt with an impressive pedigree. He is out of Harp Star, a winner of four graded stakes, including the 2014 Oka Sho, and closely related to 1999 Japanese Derby winner Admire Vega. His sire, Saturnalia, currently leads the freshman sire standings, heightening expectations for an early impact.

In his penultimate trackwork at the Ritto Training Center woodchip track, with jockey Hideaki Miyuki aboard, Vulture Star showed no signs of backing down against older, more experienced horses. He clocked 6F in 83.4 seconds, finishing with a sharp final furlong of 11.7 seconds, showcasing the same turn of foot that defined his dam's career.

In his final preparation on turf, the colt displayed light and agile strides. Trainer Manabu Ikezoe remarked, "He's had solid training and his times are competitive. He's ready to go." While acknowledging a slight tendency to be nervous, Ikezoe added, "That nervousness translates to quick gate speed. I'm excited to see how he performs."