Shirreffs eyes World Cup target for Life Is Sweet

TRAINER John Shirreffs is planning to run a top-class mare who scored at the Breeders' Cup with a scintillating last-to-first burst in the Dubai World Cup on March 27.

However, the filly in question is not the brilliant Zenyatta, set to return to action at Santa Anita on Sunday week.

Rather, her trainer has accepted a World Cup invitation on behalf of stablemate Life Is Sweet, who won the Ladies' Classic in November last year.

"I don't think the distance is an issue whatsoever, and the surface is in her favour, too," saidShirreffs, speaking to the Blood-Horse.

"Whoever is in the field, I think she'll compare very well with them. It seems like if you come from off the pace, it's an advantage."

Ante-post market leader for the World Cup is Prince of Wales's Stakes winner Vision D'Etat, who just shades favouritism over Breeders' Cup Classic runner-up Gio Ponit, touched off at odds of 1-5 recently on his seasonal debut at Tampa Bay Downs.

Life Is Sweet was second to St Trinians on her 2010 debut in a Grade 2 event at Santa Anita.

The Bill Mott-trained Courageous Cat, runner-up to Goldikova in the Breeders' Cup Mile, is also set to represent owners Pam and Marty Wygod in the Dubai Duty Free.