Owners group Carrot Club has announced that 2022 G1 Japan Cup winner Vela Azul will retire from racing and will head to Yushun Stallion Station to take up stud duties in the new year.

Vela Azul was injured after his last run in the 2023 G1 Japan Cup and connections were told that he will need over a year to fully heal. With his age, connections have decided to retire him to stud instead of waiting for recovery and racing on.

Trainer Kunihiko Watanabe commented, "When he was a yearling, we were not sure if he could become a racehorse to start. I was not expecting this horse to win a G1. He allowed us to learn so much and he strengthened the bond in my stable. I am so thankful to Vela Azul and I am grateful that he is retiring without a life-threatening issue. I hope I can train his progeny in the future."