Zanay was today given the go-ahead to tackle the Worthington Lincoln on Saturday but the participation of last year's winner Right Wing remains in the balance.
Trainer Jacqui Doyle is satisfied that Zanay has recovered well after winning the Bet Direct Winter Derby last Saturday.
But dry weather is threatening to scupper Right Wing's bid for back-to-back wins in the turf season's traditional big curtain-raiser at Doncaster.
Zanay has proved a progressive animal this winter, winning four races on Lingfield's all-weather surface.
He put up his best effort to date when stepping up to Listed company to defeat 13 rivals in the Winter Derby.
But Doyle is convinced that her charge will be even better on the turf.
Zanay has raced just three times on a natural surface, registering a win in a maiden race at Nottingham last October.
'He's been doing well on the all-weather but I am hopeful he will be even more efficient on grass,' said Doyle.
'I wanted to give him time to get over his exertions before confirming him for Doncaster. He will be declared to run tomorrow and Tom McLaughlin will be riding.'
Doyle, whose stable strength has increased to a dozen, will be having her first runner in the Lincoln.
'I might have had a runner at Doncaster before but never at the Lincoln meeting,' she said.
'Of course I entered Zanay in the Lincoln ages ago though it was never a particular target. It's just the way things have turned out.
'I've always viewed him as a turf horse but it took time to get him fit. Having just got him fit at the end of the last turf season it seemed a waste not to run.
'I had never seriously considered a race like the Winter Derby and winning that was a bonus.
'It would be good now if we could win a Listed race with him on the turf as well.'
Doyle is unsure about the best stalls position for Zanay in Saturday's one-mile cavalry charge.
'He had a good draw at Lingfield but ended up going round the outside. He's the sort of horse that likes to do his own thing,' she said.
'They say that on fast ground it's best to be where the pace is, but who knows where that will be?
'I suppose it would be all right if he was in the middle that would mean he could go right of left if he wanted to.'
Whether Right Wing is one of Zanay's opponents is still uncertain.
John Dunlop's entire needs soft conditions to show his best form and dry weather over the past few weeks has left the Town Moor terrain riding fast.
Connections are keeping their fingers crossed that the rain which is forecast for tomorrow will come to the rescue.
'We will be talking it over with the owners tomorrow before we have to declare,' said Dunlop's secretary Marcus Hosgood.
'It might be that we will leave him in and hope that the rain comes in time.'
Richard Quinn, Right Wing's partner in last year's Lincoln, will be unavailable as he is on duty at the World Cup meeting in Dubai.
Instead former champion Pat Eddery will be on board if the horse takes his chance.
Bomb Alaska, one of the leading ante-post fancies for the Lincoln, will now be action tomorrow in the Doncaster Mile.
Worthington Lincoln betting: William Hill: 4-1 Tayseer, 8-1 John Ferneley, Muchea (from 9-1), 9-1 Katy Nowaitee (from 12-1), 12-1 Right Wing, River Times, 16-1 Naviasky, Zanay, 20-1 Kuwait Dawn, Pantar, Salty Jack, The Whistling Teal, 25-1 bar. Coral: 9-2 Tayseer, 8-1 John Ferneley, Katy Nowaitee (from 12-1) 10-1 Muchea, 12-1 Zanay, 14-1 Right Wing, River Times, King Priam, 16-1 Naviasky, Pantar, 20-1 Peartree House, Rock Falcon, Silk St John, Tammam, The Whistling Teal, 25-1 bar. Tote: 4-1 Tayseer, 9-1 John Ferneley, Muchea, 10-1 Katie Nowaitee, 14-1 Right Wing, River Times, Zanay, 16-1 Great News, King Priam, Naviasky, The Whistling Teal, 20-1 bar.
