Almond Eye set for Dubai after scintillating Japan Cup victory

Almond Eye, who smashed the track record when winning the Japan Cup last Sunday, will run in the Dubai Turf or Sheema Classic on World Cup night on March 30.

The star filly completed the Japanese fillies' triple crown before her Japan Cup success and is as short as 8-1 to break her nation's hoodoo in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp next October.

Confirming that Dubai is the next target, trainer Sakae Kunieda said: "She ran well in both the Shuka Sho and the Japan Cup but there aren't any suitable races for her in Japan in the spring.

"She came out of the race fine but she is a little tired and she'll now have a break."

Almond Eye is the 15-8 favourite for the Sheema Classic, run over a mile and a half at Meydan, and is not quoted for the 1m1f Dubai Turf.

No horse trained in Japan has won the Arc but El Condor Pasa, Nakayama Festa and Orfevre have all finished runner-up.

The Arc market is headed by dual winner Enable at a general 4-1.

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