Japan Cup Dirt (G1) - Summer Bird lands in Japan

Summer Bird

Aiming for his fourth Grade 1 title this year, Summer Bird arrived at Narita Airport on Thursday and was transported to JRA Horseracing School Quarantine Stables in preparation for the Japan Cup Dirt (G1) on Dec. 6 at Hanshin Racecourse.

The 12-hour trip was Summer Bird's first travel overseas, but he seemed to have handled it well.

"His condition is well. We'll walk him around the tracks tomorrow (Friday)," said Summer Bird trainer Tim Ice upon the horse's arrival. "I'm not aware of the competition, so I can't say much, but we're very much looking forward to the race." The trainer also said he will inspect the horse's condition and decide on his training menu on a day-to-day basis.

The 3-year-old son of Birdstone, the U.S.-bred Summer Bird holds one of the best records in the dirt racing scene. Debuting in March, Summer Bird is 4-for-8 for his career, three of them coming at the top Grade 1 level. Summer Bird took the last leg of the American triple crown at the Belmont Stakes, and although he fell second to Rachel Alexandra in the Haskell Invitational Handicap, he bounced back to win consecutive Grade 1 races - Travers Stakes at Saratoga in late August and the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes at Belmont Park in October. The three Grade 1 wins have come at a combined 7 1/4 lengths margin, all coming under the mount of Kent Desormeaux.

Among the foreign-trained horses entered for the Japan Cup Dirt, Summer Bird is the only horse that qualifies for the "Japan Autumn International" bonus. With the three Grade 1 wins this year, Summer Bird can receive a bonus of 100 million yen for winning, 40 million yen for finishing second, and 25 million yen for finishing third in the race.

>More on the Japan Cup Dirt prize money and bonus system

The Japan Cup Dirt is the last leg of the four-race "Japan Autumn International" series and will be run over 1,800 meters at the right-handed Hanshin Racecourse.