Marchand d'Or under consideration for Golden Shaheen

MARCHAND D'OR (Marchand de Sable), Europe's recently crowned champion

sprinter, is scheduled to make his next start in the Hong Kong Sprint (HK-G1) on

December 14. However, the gray could also be headed for another crack at the

Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-G1) at Nad al Sheba on March 28, according to trainer

Freddie Head.

The five-year-old ran in the 2007 Golden Shaheen, finishing eighth behind

Kelly's Landing (Patton), and has racked up consecutive Group 1 wins in his past

three races -- the July Cup, Prix Maurice de Gheest and Prix de l'Abbaye. He now

embarks on an international campaign.

"He is going to Hong Kong for the Sprint and then we will look to try Dubai

again," Head explained. "He is my first Group 1 winner, so is my favorite horse,

and hopefully, we can run him for a couple more seasons."

The French-bred has won five Group 1 races in total, all with Davy Bonilla in

the saddle, but fell short at the top level in his only previous try in Dubai.

At the time, the suggestion was that the dirt didn't suit, but connections are

keen for another crack on the surface at the Dubai World Cup meeting -- the

final one to be contested at Nad Al Sheba, before racing moves to Meydan in

2010.