2021 Saudi Cup Profile: Chuwa Wizard

In the days leading up to the $20 million Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Feb. 20, usracing.com will profile the contenders in the world’s richest horse race. The profiles will be updated with odds, post positions and jockeys following the post-position draw on Wednesday [Feb. 17].

By Margaret Ransom

Chuwa Wizard, a 6-year-old son of King Kamehameha, was the Japan Racing Association’s (JRA) dirt champion of 2020 and will be making his 2021 debut after winning the Champions Cup (G1), a Saudi Cup “Win & You’re In” event at Chukyo in his most recent start Dec. 6. He will be Japan’s lone starter in the $20 million race.

Chuwa Wizard has won or placed in of 11 black-type events. In addition to the Champions Cup, he captured the Heian (G3) at Kyoto and was second in the Tokyo TV Hai Okai (G2) at Chukyo. He also won last year’s JBC Classic and Kawasaki Kinen, the 2019 Diolite Kinen and the 2018 Nagoya Grand Prix.

Chuwa Wizard, who was bred in Japan by Norther Racing, is out of the Durandal mare Chuwa Blossom. He is owned by Shinobu Nakanishi and trained by Ryuji Okubo.

2021 Saudi Cup Profile: Chuwa Wizard

Post position: TBD

Odds: TBD

Trainer: Ryuji Okubo

Jockey: Keita Tosaki

Owner: Shinobu Nakashani

Age: 6

Career record: 18-10-3-4

Career earnings: $4,535,789

Top Equibase speed figure: N/A

Pedigree: Paynter-Kosmo’s Buddy, by Outflanker

Color: Gray

Running style: Stalker/midpack runner

Notes: Shipped to Dubai a year ago to contest the Dubai World Cup before it was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions, and he then spent seven months on the shelf… only unplaced finish was a fourth in last year’s Champions Cup, which was formerly known as the Japan Cup Dirt … he was his late sire’s 12th Group 1 winner and 80th black-type winner overall

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