Champions Cup in Japan Opens Door to Saudi Cup

Last year's winner and runner-up return for another go in the Dec. 6 Champions Cup (G1) on the Chukyo Racecourse dirt track with a guaranteed slot in February's $20 million Saudi Cup at stake.

The race also could be a step forward for Cafe Pharoah, a 3-year-old Kentucky-bred American Pharoah  colt who made his presence known in the 2019-20 Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Chrysoberyl won the 2019 Champions Cup, and Gold Dream was second. Both then traveled to King Abdulaziz Racetrack the following month, with Gold Dream finishing sixth in the Saudi Cup and Chrysoberyl seventh.

For the second edition of its signature race, the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia has made the Champions Cup and the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) at Gulfstream Park automatic qualifiers. The connections of both Chrysoberyl and Gold Dream are eager to return to Riyadh, according to the Japan Racing Association.

First, though, is the Champions Cup, 1,800 meters (about 1 1/8 miles) run left-handed around two turns. A full field of 16 is drawn for the event.

Chrysoberyl emerged from the 2019 race undefeated in six starts, and the Saudi Cup remains his only loss as he has won twice since returning to Japan. The 4-year-old son of Gold Allure has raced exclusively on the dirt and has handled all conditions.

"He hasn't had much of a break this time, but that's no concern, and having had a race is good," said Chrysoberyl's trainer, Hidetaka Otonashi. "He has never lost a race in Japan. Ideally, he'll get a good position between the first and second corners and run well up to his ability."

Jockey Yuga Kawada might have to work to get a good position as Chrysoberyl drew gate 15.

Gold Dream, a 7-year-old by Gold Allure, won the February Stakes (G1) and the Champions Cup in 2017 but has been second in four grade 1 events since then. He also has specialized in dirt racing, and trainer Osamu Hirata said he is optimistic about this event.

"He doesn't show his age at all," Hirata said of Gold Dream. "It's a plus that he's back at Chukyo over 1,800 meters, where he's had good results in the past, and there's no reason why he can't produce here again."

Cafe Pharoah, out of the More Than Ready  mare Mary's Follies, was bred in Kentucky by the late Paul Pompa. He won his first three starts, including the Hyacinth Stakes, a leg of the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby, but then finished seventh in the July 8 Japan Dirt Derby before being given a rest. He returned Oct. 3 with a victory in the Sirius Stakes (G3) at Chukyo.

Needing no further credentials to get into the Champions Cup, "He's been at the stable since his last race. We're able to prepare him for a run here, and he's trained well up to now," trainer Noriyuki Hori said.

"He wasn't fully wound up when he won last time," added Christophe Lemaire, Japan's leading jockey, "so there's still room for him to improve more, and he has a chance in this grade 1."