Almond Eye Sets Sights on Dubai Turf Defense

The astounding talent of six-time grade/group 1 winner Almond Eye is on her way back to the UAE. The 5-year-old mare looks to kick off her season with a defense of the $6 million Dubai Turf Sponsored by DP World (G1) at Meydan Racecourse March 28.

The Silk Racing-owned daughter of Lord Kanaloa has pleased trainer Sakae Kunieda at home as she prepares for the 1,800-meter (about 1 1/8 miles) affair and looks to build upon a 2019 success in which she defeated eight group 1 winners, including Vivlos, Deirdre, and Lord Glitters.

A winner of the 2018 Japanese Fillies' Triple Crown and Japan Cup (G1) during the same season, Almond Eye has shown marked versatility from 1,600 meters (one mile) to 2,400 meters (1 1/2 miles), but exits the first poor effort of her career when ninth in the 2,500-meter (about 1 9/16 miles) Arima Kinen (G1) Dec. 22—a contingency race after a spiked temperature kept her from traveling for the 2,000-meter (1 1/4 miles) Longines Hong Kong Cup (G1) two weeks prior.

Kunieda also plans to bring the other major star of his stable, 2019 Japan Cup runner-up Curren Bouquetd'or, who will contest the $6 million Longines Dubai Sheema Classic (G1)—a race many thought Almond Eye may attempt this year, as it would make her the first winner of each of Dubai's top turf races. A daughter of Deep Impact out of Chilean Horse of the Year Solaria, Curren Bouquetd'or has yet to score at the top level, but has three times been a bridesmaid in grade 1 company, including in the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks, G1). She exits a second on yielding going in the Kyoto Kinen (G2) Feb. 16.

"Both fillies are planning on coming," Kunieda said. "Almond Eye was tired after her Arima run, but she has rebounded well and will be coming back to Miho (Training Center) this week. We never really thought of the Sheema Classic (with her), as the Turf suits her so well. We will prep her the same as we did last year.

"Curren Bouquetd'or came out of her race last week well," he continued. "The winner just loved the ground, though our filly can run on any ground. She is best on counter-clockwise courses like Tokyo and Dubai, so I'm not worried about her ability to run well in Dubai. She came out of her race in good order and she will train together with Almond Eye once she gets to the training center."