Cirrus Des Aigles will not head to Dubai this year with his trainer Corine Barande-Barb opting to keep him home in France.

The nine-year-old won the 2012 Sheema Classic and returned two years later to finish second behind Gentildonna in the Group One over a mile and a half (2400m).

Barande-Barbe has decided to give the inspirational veteran more time to recuperate from his run at Sha Tin in December when he finished fourth in the Hong Kong Cup.

"The horse is perfectly well and perfectly happy, just like always," Barande-Barb said.

"After he came back from Hong Kong, we wanted to give him a full month of relaxation.

"To go to Dubai would not give him enough time to be completely at his best, so we have decided to leave it this year.

"We like to go to Dubai every other year, so it might be we try again next year.

"He's very fresh and enjoying life, but I'd like to get him back for a race at Longchamp in the spring before we think about the Prix Ganay."

The Dubai World Cup meeting is on March 28 at Meydan.