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Goldikova - An All-Time Great Miler
08/11/10

Following her scintillating third successive win in Saturday's Breeders' Cup Mile, the astounding French mare Goldikova must surely rate as one of the greatest racehorses of the modern era, and possibly of all time, writes Elliot Slater.

Goldikova
© JC Briens

On a night when the hysterical US racing public only had eyes for another great mare, Zenyatta, Goldikova's achievement in winning the world's top mile race yet again was appreciated to a degree by the locals, but undoubtedly seen by most as the hors d'oeuvre before the main course. Anywhere else in the world the crowd would have gone crazy and truly appreciated the extraordinary display of Freddie Head's mare above all else.

A winner of 15 of her 21 career starts, 12 of them at Group 1 level against consistently the best opposition around, Goldikova was flawless at Churchill Downs as she settled in midfield under her ever-present rider Olivier Peslier, behind front-running Sidney’s Candy on the tight Kentucky circuit. Making her move with less than two furlongs to run, the daughter of Anabaa came scything through a high-class field and fairly sprinted clear of top-notch horse Gio Ponti, with The Usual QT third, and her old adversary, Richard Hannon's Paco Boy, running-on in fourth. In most races, these other horses would have been good racing tips to win, but Goldikova didn't give them a chance.

Given a fine reception by the locals, but nothing close to that given to Zenyatta even in the saddling box area, Goldikova further enhanced her record as the most successful top grade horse in European racing history. Her amazing attitude, will to win and outstanding ability, mark her down as something of a freak.

Freddie Head, who partnered that other great French miler Miesque to victory in two Breeders' Cup Mile's in the 1980s, was all but overwhelmed by Goldikova's achievement. His handling of the Wertheimer Brothers' pride and joy has been exemplary and might not be over just yet, with her owners refusing to rule out the possibility that the mare could come back to try and make it four in a row next year and the betting tips suggest she has every chance of doing so.

Now that would be something extra special to look forward to.