Zenyatta Breeder Cup 2009

Undefeated American mare Zenyatta is being lined up to come out of her brief retirement this year.

Owners Jerry and Ann Moss said Zenyatta would stop racing after becoming the first female to win the Breeders' Cup Classic in November at Santa Anita.

She seemed set for a breeding career with a record of 14 straight wins.

But after watching the six-year-old on the gallops and consulting with the trainer, Jerry Moss revealed the horse looked "too good".

The daughter of Street Cry produced a sensational performance to win the Breeders' Cup Classic last year, with jockey Mike Smith proclaiming her as "the horse of the decade by far"

It was the first time in the race's 26-year history that a female had triumphed.

Moss did not say where Zenyatta, named after the 1980 album "Zenyatta Mondata" by The Police, will make her return, although she has run almost exclusively in southern California.

He added: "It's what she likes to do and that's what we decided to do, so we're going to run her."

It raises the prospect of a showdown with fellow star Rachel Alexandra, who won all of her eight races in 2009.