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Good as 'Gold' in the Mile
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There was no doubt that Goldikova was best in the Mile
(Charles Pravata/Horsephotos.com) |
Twenty years ago, Freddie Head piloted the brilliant Miesque to her second
stunning triumph in the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1). On Saturday, the legendary
French jockey-turned-trainer added another laurel to his resume courtesy of
another superstar filly, GOLDIKOVA (Ire) (Anabaa). Producing an electrifying
burst of speed to extricate herself from a pocket, the Wertheimer & Frere
homebred dethroned defending champion Kip Deville (Kipling) in the $1,951,080
renewal of the
Mile.
In the wake of her success, Head now has achieved a uniquely historic double: he
is the only person to win Breeders' Cup events as both a rider and trainer.
"She's a wonderful filly," Head enthused. "She's in the same class as Miesque.
She was a little backward before, but now she's in the same league as Miesque."
Goldikova broke sharply beneath Olivier Peslier, who deftly secured a
ground-saving spot along the inside, and the sophomore traveled sweetly just off
the heels of the leaders. To no one's surprise, Thorn Song (Unbridled's Song)
sprinted to the fore through fractions of :23, :46 2/5 and 1:10, with Daytona
(Ire) (Indian Ridge) tracking closely. Behind the cruising Goldikova came Kip
Deville and the mare Precious Kitten (Catienus).
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On the far turn, Daytona threw down his challenge to Thorn Song, while
Precious Kitten began to advance. At this point, Goldikova found herself caught
in traffic. She was still buried among rivals at the top of the stretch, just
when Precious Kitten powered to the lead, soon to be swept aside by the motoring
Kip Deville to her outside. Peslier then spotted a seam, pointed Goldkova toward
it, and she exploded with the crackle of a lightning strike. Rocketing past Kip
Deville, Goldikova settled the issue in a matter of strides, drawing 1 1/4
lengths clear in a final time of 1:33 2/5 on Santa Anita's firm turf.
"After a nice trip, just before the last corner, I was waiting for a chance,
when that hole opened she jumped up and just kept going," Peslier said. "She's
very good. I've won a lot of big races with her."
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Goldikova earned a rare double for her trainer
(Ed Van Meter/Horsephotos.com) |
Kip Deville was himself 2 1/2 lengths ahead of the late-running
Whatsthescript (Ire) (Royal Applause [GB]), who charged home from last to garner
third in a blanket finish. Another head back came the gallant Precious Kitten,
just a neck in front of U S Ranger (Danzig). Awesome Gem (Awesome Again) was a
close sixth, followed by War Monger (War Chant), Bold Chieftain (Chief Seattle),
Thorn Song, Daytona and Shakis (Ire) (Machiavellian).
Justifying her 9-5 favoritism, Goldikova returned $5.60, $4 and $2.80 while
spearheading the $13.60 exacta ($1), $47.60 trifecta ($1) and $302.20 superfecta
(4-2-11-3) ($1). Kip Deville, the 4-1 second choice, gave back $4.80 and $3.40,
and Whatsthescript yielded $3.40 as the nearly 9-2 third choice.
Goldikova extended her winning streak to four while advancing her lifetime
mark to 9-6-2-1, $2,095,414. Two-for-two as a juvenile, the bay just missed in
her seasonal debut on heavy ground. She chased the peerless Zarkava in her next
two, recovering from a nearly disastrous start to finish second in the Poule
d'Essai des Pouliches (French One Thousand Guineas) (Fr-G1) and checking in a
non-staying third in the Prix de Diane (French Oaks) (Fr-G1). Goldikova resumed
the winning thread in the Prix Chloe (Fr-G3), then went on to defeat older
horses in the Prix Rothschild (Fr-G1) and the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp
(Fr-G1).
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The Irish-bred filly was produced by the winning Blushing Groom (Fr) mare
Born Gold, who is also responsible for Group 3 scorers Gold Round (Caerleon) and
Gold Sound (Fr) (Green Tune), the Group 3-placed pair of Born Something (Ire) (Caerleon)
and Red Tune (Green Tune), and the unraced juvenile filly Born Again (Cape Cross
[Ire]). Born Gold is a full sister to multiple Group 1 heroine Gold Splash.
Goldikova's second dam is Group 1 queen Riviere d'Or (Lyphard), and her third
dam is champion Gold River (Fr) (Riverman), who captured the 1981 Prix de l'Arc
de Triomphe (Fr-G1).
Head indicated that Goldikova would remain in training next season.
"Of course, if all goes well, we'll come back here and we'll be back," he
said of a projected title defense in the 2009 Mile.
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