Summer Bird will be set for the Japan Cup Dirt (1800m) on December 6 after finishing fourth in last Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Classic.

The Tim Ice trained colt won the Belmont Stakes, Travers Stakes and Jockey Club Gold Cup at Group 1 level this year and is eligible for an extra US$1 million bonus if he wins in US$3 million Hanshin feature.

Summer Bird (Birdstone – Hong King Squall by Summer Squall) is raced by owner-breeders Kalarikkal and Vilasini Jayaraman.  The only other United States-based horse to win the Japan Cup Dirt was Fleetstreet Dancer (Smart Strike) in 2003.