[4] After a 4 months break, the horse was entered in to his first graded race with Kohei Matsuyama [ja], the Kyoto Daishoten, held on October 10.

[5] 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.

[5] 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.

[4] Vela Azul started his 6 year old season abroad with the Dubai World Cup, but finished at 13th place.

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.

[4] Following the Japan Cup, the horse was sent to pasture to recuperate at Northern Farm Shigaraki [ja] in Shiga Prefecture, where a swelling in the left forearm was noted.

[12] It was also announced that, following his retirement, Vela Azul would stand stud at the Yushun Stallion Station [ja] in Niikappu, Hokkaido.