Nine-year-old Royal Ida could be a surprise runner at the Dubai World Cup meeting with trainer Luke Oliver nominating him for the $US1 million Al Quoz Sprint.The Group Three 1200m event - added to this year's $US26.25 million World Cup program on March 27 and run on turf - is a support race to the prestigious dirt sprint, the $2 million Group One Golden Shaheen (1200m)."It is a pie in the sky idea but if we can get an invite we will certainly go there," Oliver said."Today (Wednesday) I nominated
Nine-year-old Royal Ida could be a surprise runner at the Dubai World Cup meeting with trainer Luke Oliver nominating him for the $US1 million Al Quoz Sprint.
The Group Three 1200m event - added to this year's $US26.25 million World Cup program on March 27 and run on turf - is a support race to the prestigious dirt sprint, the $2 million Group One Golden Shaheen (1200m).
"It is a pie in the sky idea but if we can get an invite we will certainly go there," Oliver said.
"Today (Wednesday) I nominated him for Dubai and now we have got to try and make him look as good as possible to get there."
Royal Ida, who came out of retirement last year, has never raced better and last start won the Group Three Standish Handicap (1200m) at Flemington.
He is entered for Saturday's Listed Kensington Stakes (1000m) at the same venue but Oliver says his preference is to wait a week and run him in the Group Two Australia Stakes (1200m) under lights at Moonee Valley on January 22.
He said his concern about running at the Valley was a possible clash with Peter Moody's star filly Black Caviar.
"I really want to go to Moonee Valley but it looks like Black Caviar is going to be in that race and if she runs we are only running for second," Oliver said.
He said he was still weighing up the options for Royal Ida and hoped the Moody stable would declare its hand before Saturday.
"Carrying 59 kilos over 1000 metres at Flemington doesn't really suit him that much and there are a couple of good horses in it like Secret Flyer, who is very good fresh, Johnny Fiasco, and one or two from Adelaide," Oliver said
"He might still run on Saturday but 1200 metres at weight-for-age around the Valley would be a lot better for him."
Black Caviar is unbeaten in four starts and was a dual Listed winner before her last start victory in the Group Two Danehill Stakes at Flemington on September 5.
Moody is considering the Group One Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on January 31 as an alternative target to the Australia Stakes to launch Black Caviar's autumn campaign.
Royal Ida has won 17 of his 53 starts and nearly $760,000 in prizemoney and Oliver says he has pleased him since the Standish.
"He's an amazing horse," Oliver said.