Japan: Chrysoberyl seeks repeat in Grade 1 Champions Cup at Chukyo Racecourse

In Japan, Chrysoberyl is unbeaten in eight starts, including the Grade 1 Champions Cup on dirt in 2019.

The 4-year-old colt’s only career loss was a seventh-place finish behind Maximum Security in the $20 million Saudi Cup in Saudi Arabia in February.

Chrysoberyl recovered from that setback to win consecutive races at Ohi Racecourse in Tokyo in June and on Nov. 3. The recent wins leave Chrysoberyl as the leading contender for Sunday’s Champions Cup at 1 1/8 miles at Chukyo Racecourse.

Whether that leads to a return engagement in Saudi Arabia remains to be seen. For now, the $1.87 million Champions Cup, with its first-place purse of approximately $992,224 is the primary objective.

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Chrysoberyl, a Japanese-bred colt by Gold Allure, will be ridden by Yuga Kawada for trainer Hidetaka Otonashi. Chrysoberl typically races as a stalker and has drawn post 15 in a field of 16.

There are three Kentucky-breds in the field – Air Almas, Cafe Pharoah and Mozu Ascot.

Air Almas, a 5-year-old by Majestic Warrior, has won 7 of 17 starts and was a Group 2 winner at Kyoto in January. More recently, Air Almas was fourth in a Group 3 race at 1 1/8 miles behind Clincher, who is part of the Champions Cup field.

Cafe Pharoah led the points standings for the Japanese prep races for the Kentucky Derby earlier this year, but was not sent to Kentucky after finishing seventh in the Japan Dirt Derby at Ohi in July. By American Pharoah, Cafe Pharoah rebounded to win the Grade 3 Sirius Stakes at Chukyo Racecourse at 1 3/16 miles on Oct. 3 for his fourth win in five starts.

Mozu Ascot, a 6-year-old horse by Frankel, has won 7 of 25 starts, but is winless in four starts since a victory as the favorite in the Grade 1 February Stakes at Tokyo Racecourse on Feb. 23.

Mozu Ascot is out of India, a four-time stakes winner for trainer Todd Pletcher in 2006 and 2007.