Saudi Cup Profile: Chrysoberyl

By Noel Michaels

Riyadh King Abdulaziz Racetrack – Photo courtesy of Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia.

Undefeated Japan-based 4-year-old is a perfect 6-for-6 after capping off a five-win sophomore campaign with a victory in the Champions Cup (G1), becoming only the fifth 3-year-old to win the race formerly known as the Japan Cup Dirt.

All of his races have been on dirt, and perhaps the sky is the limit for this horse based on what we’ve seen. He also won Japan’s Dirt Derby (local G1).

Chrysoberyl was highly-regarded going into the Champions Cup and sent off as the second-choice behind former winner Gold Dream, who ended up second and also set up for the Saudi Cup. Chrysoberyl’s sire, Gold Allure, was sired by U.S. champion 3-year-old of 1989, Sunday Silence. The dam, Chrysophase, descends from Kingmambo on the top and Riverman on the bottom.

Regarding Chrysoberyl’s victory in the Champions Cup, jockey Yuga Kawada commented, “We were able to settle in good position behind Inti and the colt was able to race with good rhythm. Though it was difficult to advance, having to race between Inti and Gold Dream at the stretch, we were able to pull away and win the rally at the end. He is still unbeaten and I’m confident that he will continue to develop and become even stronger.”

Chrysoberyl

Trainer: Hidetaka Otonashi

Jockey: Yuga Kawada

Owner: U. Carrot Farm

Career record: 6-6-0-0

Career earnings: $2,010,000 (approximate)

Pedigree: Gold Allure-Chrysoprase, by El Condor Pasa

Age: 4

Running style: Stalker

Handicapping Insights:

“6-for-6 (four stakes) lifetime on dirt in Japan at 1 1/8 miles or longer; serious threat.’’ – Ed McNamara

“Unbeaten 6-for-6 and winner over Gold Dream in Champions Cup last time out … has an unlimited ceiling, but Japan-based horses have traditionally struggled when up against the top American and Dubai-trained connections.” – Noel Michaels

Notes: Chrysoberyl did benefit from a dream, ground-saving pocket trip in edging Gold Dream in Champions Cup, finally tipping out between horses in deep stretch to win … Winning time in the Champions Cup was a race record 1:48.50 for about 1 1/8 miles (same distance as Saudi Cup) … Trainer Hidetaka Otonashi has risen to prominence mainly over the last three years in Japan and has now won a career total of 12 Grade 1 races. He won 15 stakes races in Japan in 2019. Otonashi’s other most prominent trainee is Indy Champ, a multiple Grade 1 winner (Yasuda Kinen, Mile Championship) who was most recently seventh in the Hong Kong Mile (G1) at Sha Tin … Jockey Yuga Kawada is a 13-time Japanese Grade 1 race winner. … Owner U. Carrot Farm is a prominent Japanese farm that also owns long distance runner Rey de Oro, who is bound for the Dubai Sheema Classic (G1), and Saturnalia, who seems headed for the Dubai Turf (G1).