Arlington Million winner to get Japan Cup berth

The Japan Racing Association will offer the winner of the 2009 Arlington Million an automatic invitation to the 2009 Japan Cup, it was announced last week.

The JRA hands out automatic berths to the winners of other major international Group 1 races. The Group 1, $5.6 million Japan Cup will be contested Nov. 29 at Tokyo Racecourse.

There is not a well-traveled pipeline between these two races, but 1990 Million winner Golden Pheasant won the 1991 Japan Cup for trainer Charlie Whittingham.