Japanese globetrotter Deirdre set for Middle East after winter in Newmarket

Nomadic Japanese mare Deirdre, who pulled off a shock in the Nassau Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, is being primed for global assignments in Saudi Arabia or Dubai after wintering in Newmarket.

It is more than nine months since the daughter of Harbinger left her homeland to run in Europe, a campaign that yielded a Group 1 win in the Nassau Sakes in August as well as credible placed efforts in the British and Irish Champion Stakes.

The six-year-old mare signed off with a fast-finishing fourth in the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin in December, after which she flew back to her base at Jane Chapple-Hyam's Abington Stables.

Chapple-Hyam, who is overseeing the training of Deirdre in the absence of her regular trainer Mitsuru Hashida, said: "Deirdre flew back here after Hong Kong rather than going home and you could say she is now a 'Newmarket Sheila'!

"She first came here last May and has never been away. She's wintered very well and has been out on the Al Bahathri Polytrack in the last couple of days.

"I think the plan is to run her in the Gulf at either Saudi Arabia or Dubai in the coming months, but we'll know more nearer the time. It's great to have her around and very sporting of the owners to keep her in training."

Deirdre is a general 14-1 chance behind fellow Japanese contender Almond Eye for the Dubai Turf at Meydan on March 28, and is 16-1 for the Dubai Sheema Classic the same evening.

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