Japan star Almond Eye back in full training with Victoria Mile next target

The five-year-old, who has not raced since finishing down the field in the Arima Kinen in December, had been in line to defend her Dubai Turf title on Dubai World Cup night before the meeting was called off as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Almond Eye shipped back to Japan late last month and is set to return to trainer Sakae Kunieda's barn at the Miho Training Center this week as she is prepared for the mile contest at Tokyo, which has been won by star names such as Vodka and Buena Vista in the past.

"I have heard that the pasture is going well, and there is no transport damage [due to the expedition to Dubai]," Kunieda told yahoo.jp.

Winner of the Japanese fillies’ Triple Crown in 2018, the same year she was named horse of the year, Almond Eye has also claimed top-level victories in the Japan Cup and Tenno Sho (Autumn) and is among the most popular horses in Japan.

Last year she had been in the mix to contest the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe before connections changed their plans. She is 8-1 second favourite for this year’s race behind 6-1 favourite Enable.

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