Plans to race Scarlett Lady in Singapore in May following a Sydney autumn campaign have been shelved with the Melbourne Cup uppermost in owner Max Whitby's mind.The mare returned to the Group One winners' list in New Zealand on Saturday to confirm a trip to Sydney for the weight-for-age Ranvet Stakes and BMW.One of the early favourites for the 2011 Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, Scarlett Lady's mission ended when she was unplaced in the Underwood Stakes and subsequently underwent surgery to remov

Plans to race Scarlett Lady in Singapore in May following a Sydney autumn campaign have been shelved with the Melbourne Cup uppermost in owner Max Whitby's mind.

The mare returned to the Group One winners' list in New Zealand on Saturday to confirm a trip to Sydney for the weight-for-age Ranvet Stakes and BMW.

One of the early favourites for the 2011 Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, Scarlett Lady's mission ended when she was unplaced in the Underwood Stakes and subsequently underwent surgery to remove a bone sliver.

She recovered quickly and returned to Graeme and Debbie Rogerson's North Island stable to resume her career.

Her comeback has been flawless with her first-up win over 1600 metres at Tauherenikau followed by victory in Saturday's Group One New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie.

"We have gone off Singapore," Whitby said.

"It was very attractive but coming back she has to spend five weeks in quarantine and that's just too long when we are looking at the spring.

She will come to Sydney for the Ranvet and the BMW and then we may look at a race like the Doomben Cup.

"The Melbourne Cup is the dream and it is well and truly alive again.

"And I'll be glad to have her racing in Australia. I've been commuting to New Zealand and it's tiring."

Whitby said New Zealand's leading jockey James McDonald would stick with the mare in Australia.

Her stablemate Dowager Queen, who Whitby races in partnership with Graeme Rogerson, will also return to Australia to try to emulate Scarlett Lady's 2011 feats in Brisbane during the winter.

"Dowager Queen will go to Brisbane and try for the Doomben Roses and the Queensland Oaks, the races Scarlett Lady won last year," Whitby said.

"I'm really looking forward to their campaigns."

Both Scarlett Lady and Dowager Queen are by 2004 Cox Plate winner Savabeel in whom Whitby was a shareholder.

Dowager Queen ran favourite in the last year's VRC Oaks but had to settle for a gallant but distant second behind Mosheen, winner of the Australian Guineas this autumn.