Crack Japanese mare Buena Vista may run at the Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse on March 26 instead of a repeat tilt at the Dubai Sheema Classic.
Japan's horse of the year went down by three-quarters of a length to Dar Re Mi last year in the 2,400m turf contest, but trainer Hiroyoshi Matsuda outlined at the Japan Racing Association awards that he would prefer to aim his five-year-old at the world's richest race.
"Her target will be Dubai and I expect her to run better than the last challenge," Matsuda added, outlining that Buena Vista would not have a preparation run.
Since racing at Meydan, Buena Vista has picked up two Group 1 wins over 1,600m and 2,000m, but was controversially disqualified after passing the post first in the Japan Cup in November.
The news comes amid comments from British trainer Ed Dunlop, who suggested his globe-trotting mare Snow Fairy might not come to Dubai for World Cup night.
A busy schedule means that a decision concerning her participation will not be made until next month. Snow Fairy, who was purchased for just Dh9,000, is disputing favouritism for the Dubai World Cup with Cape Blanco, the Irish Derby victor, and Twice Over, owned by Khalid Abdullah.
"The plan is the World Cup but she will tell us whether she will be ready in time and we will see how things progress," said Dunlop.
"She has just started exercise again, doing two canters every other day of the week and we will build up her work-schedule slowly during February."
Meanwhile, Saeed bin Suroor is not resting on his laurels after saddling his 1o0th Carnival winner on Thursday night.
"We have made a great start to the 2011 Carnival and the horses are running well," the Godolphin trainer said.
"I have won a lot of races but there are still many things I would still like to achieve such as winning the Melbourne Cup, the Kentucky Derby and the Breeders' Cup Classic.
"Godolphin's goal has always been to win every major race in the world and we will never stop trying."
* With agency
