Summer Bird injured, out of Japan Cup Dirt

NiteOwl666 · Postby **NiteOwl666** » Sat Nov 28, 2009 8:56 pm

Summer Bird suffered a fracture to his right front leg while working out - not life threatening.

http://www.paulickreport.com/blog/summe ... -in-japan/

I was looking forward to him running again next year - doubtful now

karenkarenn · Postby **karenkarenn** » Sat Nov 28, 2009 9:20 pm

yeah they have been talking about that for a while now on TVg.

karenkarenn · Postby **karenkarenn** » Sat Nov 28, 2009 9:22 pm

Now they are saying from Steve Haskins ( SP) that its just a chip.

NiteOwl666 · Postby **NiteOwl666** » Sat Nov 28, 2009 11:56 pm

Yea I was at work all day, and don't get TVG so first I had heard. Update says Ice said the fracture is going straight up the medial carpal bone, might require a screw.

NiteOwl666 · Postby **NiteOwl666** » Sun Nov 29, 2009 12:03 am

Just read Haskin's article that you mentioned - owner says it's a chip in the fetlock, Ice is saying fracture in the medial carpal - wonder which?

geowarrior · Postby **geowarrior** » Sun Nov 29, 2009 1:21 am

Later on TVG Wolf had talked to Tim Ice and Kotulak had talked to the owners. Chip in fetlock area approximately pea sized confirmed. They're trying to get a flight back so that the chip can be removed in Kentucky. They have not ruled out a return to racing.

wangkw · Postby **wangkw** » Sun Nov 29, 2009 2:54 am

If it returns home then game over for this race...cant they fix it up in Japan ?

Mahubah · Postby **Mahubah** » Sun Nov 29, 2009 7:15 am

Game is over anyway for the Japan Cup Dirt -- the horse can't recover from arthroscopic surgery that quickly. Question now is whether the horse will return to racing next year. I hope so as next year's older male division could be quite interesting with Summer Bird, Quality Road, and the rapidly improving Blame as major players coming out of the sophomore ranks.

geowarrior · Postby **geowarrior** » Tue Dec 01, 2009 12:21 pm

Now, according to the DRF, it's back to being a cannon bone fracture. Apparently the confusion was caused by the fact that the Japanese person who conducted the original x-rays did not speak English well and the diagnosis was lost in translation. Dr. Jayaraman looked at the x-rays himself and came up with the revised diagnosis. Still requires surgery, which will be done here.

Tucumcari · Postby **Tucumcari** » Wed Dec 02, 2009 11:01 am

It is a lateral condylar fracture that will have surgery promptly. He is in quarintene at H' wood. Fact

bdw0617 · Postby **bdw0617** » Wed Dec 02, 2009 7:39 pm

i think they are actaully STILL going to keep him in training. that's amazing to me

Tucumcari · Postby **Tucumcari** » Thu Dec 03, 2009 11:08 am

Once he heals it is not all that unusual B

bdw0617 · Postby **bdw0617** » Thu Dec 03, 2009 3:10 pm

when you are the belmont, travers and jockey club gold cup winner by an up and coming sire it is.

dublino · Postby **dublino** » Thu Dec 03, 2009 4:19 pm

bdw0617 wrote:when you are the belmont, travers and jockey club gold cup winner by an up and coming sire it is.

Yeah but he was sired by a $10K stallion who sires small horses, not a commercial goldmine by anymeans.

geowarrior · Postby **geowarrior** » Thu Dec 03, 2009 7:28 pm

The 'sire of sires' factor is certainly an unknown with a son of Birdstone. However, although Summer Bird has inherited the racing talent and distance capabilities of his sire, he does not look at all like his sire in that he seems (from my crummy t.v.) to be larger and is a nice chestnut. I'd be interested in hearing thoughts on his conformation from anyone who has had a chance to see him up close. I'm no genetics buff, but I see no reason why we would expect Summer Bird to throw offspring that look like Birdstone to the exclusion of other possible 'looks' for the progeny.

He has a nice broodmare sire in Summer Squall, and his female family goes back to Moon Glitter, full sister to Relaunch. Other good sires have this female family also.

Add all this to his excellent race record and I think you have a package that will, at least initially, allow Summer Bird to be priced higher than Birdstone. Birdstone's looks and size and the fact that he does stamp some of his offspring with the small plain brown wrapper appearance (example - Mine That Bird) are likely to keep his sales average relatively low, even though his mares have been of lower quality so far in comparison with other standout sires of his group (e.g. Medaglia d'Oro and Tapit) and the racing exploits of his upcoming progeny would be expected to improve with the likely improved quality of future mares. Birdstone, if the promise of the early crops is fulfilled, will reach a level suitable for a very good breed to race sire.

My biggest concern with Birdstone is that he seems to get runners for conventional dirt only. I would hope for greater versatility from Summer Bird, and if he stamps his offspring with his looks, as well as his racing ability then it's possible that he could outstrip Birdstone permanently in terms of stud fee (i.e. when the vagaries of market vs. brand new sires settles down) within a few years.