Melbourne Cup hero Dunaden could make his first appearance of 2012 in the Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket on May 5.
The six-year-old, who followed up his Australian triumph with victory in the Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin in November, is among 19 entries for the Group Two contest at Headquarters.
He is reported to be in fine shape by trainer Mikel Delzangles following his travels.
“There is a big chance Dunaden could run in the Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket,” Delzangles said.
“He has been in good order through the winter and recovered from his journey to Australia and Hong Kong very well. If he goes to Newmarket, he will be going there in very good form.
“In Hong Kong we wanted to see how good he was over 12 furlongs (2400m) so we could tell how he would get on against the good horses in Europe.
“During the spring and summer we will stay at a mile and a half (2400m) – races like the Grand Prix De Saint-Cloud and King George & Queen Elizabeth II Stakes are possibilities for him later in the season.
“Whether it’s soft ground or fast ground, he has no preference.”
Potential opposition includes fellow French-trained runner Meandre from Andre Fabre’s stable and winner of the Grand Prix de Paris.
Nick Bell, stud manager for owners the Rothschild Family’s Haras de Meautry in France, said: “The Jockey Club Stakes is the plan for Meandre, providing he is in good order before the race.
“He is also entered in the Prix Ganay, but he is more likely to go to Newmarket because the ground and faster pace will suit him better.
“He has done very well over the winter – we are very pleased with him. He only started full work four or five weeks ago and he has been with Andre Fabre all the way through the winter, so whatever he does at Newmarket, he will come on for the race.
“If he runs well at Newmarket he will head to Epsom for the Coronation Cup.
“I thought it was a very good run in the Prix de l’Arc De Triomphe (sixth to Danedream) when you look at the form of it.
“If you take out the winner who won very easily, he is in there with a whole host of good Group One horses. All roads this season lead back to the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe again.”
Other Jockey Club entries that stand out are Ed Dunlop’s Red Cadeaux, just beaten by Dunaden at Flemington, John Gosden’s last two St Leger winners Masked Marvel and Arctic Cosmos, the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Sea Moon and Fiorente and one-time 2011 Derby favourite World Domination from Sir Henry Cecil’s stable.
