Vermeulen's last win came with Mountain Man in Forbury Park in November 1993, but the horse died a year later.
Since his his move to his Wingatui quarters in 1995, he has had just a smattering of runners, and it was looking like a quiet summer again.
''We had a rising 2yr-old who got gelded then dropped dead,'' Vermeulen said.
''I was at Syd's [Brown] place and he said `you're not training anything at the moment - why don't you train one of mine?'''I thought why not, he's doing a lot of favours for me, so I might as well return the favour.''
Vermeulen began training San Antonio Rose late last year from Brown's property, and the 5yr-old mare's progress has surprised him.
''She's coming along. She's doing everything right and that's the main thing. To be honest, I can't take credit for most of it - you're part of a good team there [at Brown's property].
The breeding is there for San Antonio Rose - she is a daughter of Bogan Flash, a full sister to the 1997 New Zealand Derby champion, Bogan Fella.
San Antonio Rose's first public appearance was at the Forbury Park workouts in November and she qualified at her first attempt on December 9.
''That's when Syd said why not go to Forbury Park [on December 19],'' he said.
''Forbury Park was good and of course, we decided to carry on.
A third at Forbury Park was followed by the same result at Gore on December 27 and Oamaru on January 9 before yesterday's win.
''We think we'll go to Invercargill next week.''
Class prevailed in the first race when Mach's Love, a half-sister to Terror To Love, led all the way to win on debut.
The 3yr-old impressed driver Ricky May as she pulled away to beat her rivals by five lengths.
''She hasn't got the speed of her brother,'' May laughed.
''But she keeps rolling. She won pretty good really and she behaved perfectly.''
Good things are also expected of Aidan's Rocket, who stepped out of maiden grade with a comfortable victory in a c0 mobile pace.
The son of Klondike Kid is raced by trainer-driver Nathan Williamson along with Art Shirley, Neville Cleaver and Ben Calder, strong supporters of Williamson's stable.
Williamson drove the gelding in a trial in 2012 for trainer Kirstin Barclay and liked what he saw and felt.
''She said he was for sale, so we bought him,'' Williamson said.
''It was only matter of weeks since we bought him - we were preparing him for this circuit last year - and he got a hairline fracture in his hind pastern so we had to back him off a bit.
''He's had such a long spell it took a bit to get him back to race fitness but he's there now.''
Williamson hopes to find a suitable junior drivers' race for Aidan's Rocket, but expects him to measure up wherever it may be.
''I expect him to have a pretty promising future. I think he's quite nice. I think he'll handle the next grade OK.''
