Belmont and Travers Stakes winner Summer Bird will seek to become the 2nd American horse to win the Japan Cup Dirt after finishing 4th in the Breeders Cup Classic. To the best of my knowledge the race is going to take place on December 5 at Hanshin Racecourse. The only horse to win the Japan Cup Dirt from the U.S. was the Doug O’Neill trained Fleetstreet Dancer. He was piloted to victory by Jon Court. This year’s purse is $2.8 million. If the winners share is 60% in Japan like it is in the U.S. then Summer Bird would earn $1.68 for a win.

I think the son of Birdstone will handle the track well. He is a very fast colt, and with his best race he should outclass the Japanese runners. However, he does have some things working against him. He will be racing in a foreign country for the first time and wheeling back on 4 weeks rest. We can all agree that Mastercraftsman was the best runner in this years Breeders Cup Dirt Mile, but he couldn’t handle the surface. It’s doubtful that Summer Bird won’t handle the dirt in Japan, but ANYTHING is possible.

I will certainly tune in and root for him. Having Kent Desormeaux as his jockey will be advantage. Desormeaux has had great success in the land of the rising sun in the past. He became the first foreign jockey to win a Japanese classic race when he guided Lady Pastel to victory in the Japanese Oaks.  This has been a breakout year for trainer Tim Ice and I’d love to see him get another big win.

The following day will also be a big one for American runners. Interpretation, Marsh Side, and Just as Well are set to run in the Japan Cup (Turf). Just as Well is owned and trained by route specialist Jonathan Sheppard. He has put together and excellent campaign this year, with wins in the Arlington Handicap, and Northern Dancer Turf Stakes. He was second in the Arlington Million. Interpretation won the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes over Breeders Cup Classic runner up Gio Ponti last out. Marsh Side hasnt done his best running of late, but will surely have a chance under the care of Neil Drysdale.

Americans have had a decent amount of success in the Japan Cup but are experiencing a drought at the current time. Don MacBeth, who I talked about earlier this week, won the second running of the race on Half Iced. Chris MacCarron won on Pay The Butler for the late Robert Frankel. Gary Stevens and Charles Whittingham hooked up to win the race with Golden Pheasant in 1991. We haven’t had a winner since. I’m going to cross my fingers and hope the drought ends this time. Good luck to all the connections running in Japan and I hope to see the victor back stateside soon!