French star Cirrus Des Aigles will be prepared for another racing campaign.

There had been speculation the 10-year-old would be retired after he struggled in the Hong Kong Vase in December.

But trainer Corine Barande-Barbe says he is showing her he still has enthusiasm for racing.

Cirrus Des Aigles' first objective could be the Sheema Classic at Meydan in Dubai in March, a race he won in 2012 and in which he finished second two years ago.

"We let him have a little holiday when he came back from Hong Kong, but he is cantering again and there is no stopping him," Barande-Barbe said.

"He will be entered in the Sheema Classic. It is a race that suits him very well, I think and if he shows us he is very well, we will go.

"After that he will run in the Prix Ganay in the spring, and then we will see.

"We may come back to England, but that is a long way off.

"At this stage, nothing is closed."

Barande-Barbe accepts the decision to keep Cirrus Des Aigles in training will be criticised in some quarters.

"Despite what everyone says, I don't care," she said.

"Some people, remember, said he should have been retired in September 2011 and then he went to Ascot and won the Champion Stakes.

"I always have in my mind he is now 10 years old, and as soon as he looks unhappy we will stop with him.

"I will always, always try to do my best for the horse and I hope everyone knows that."