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Goldikova upset by Varenar in Foret Reigning Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) queen GOLDIKOVA (Ire) (Anabaa) was upset in Saturday's Prix de la Foret (Fr-G1) over about seven furlongs at Longchamp, winding up third after being outfinished late by Varenar (Rock of Gibraltar [Ire]). Nevertheless, the outstanding filly is still set to defend her crown in the $2 million Mile at Oak Tree at Santa Anita on November 7. The Freddie Head trainee kicked for home in good time but was caught in the closing stages. Varenar got up by a short head over Sweet Hearth (Touch Gold), with Goldikova another half-length back. Bookmakers still rate her an odds-on chance to win the Mile. "I don't know what happened," Head said. "They went a gallop, but that is the name of the game. She didn't quicken. Turning into the straight, she did not pick up and when he (Olivier Peslier) asked her she stayed on at the one pace. "She might have used herself too much early on, but you couldn't say for sure. For the moment she is going to the Breeders' Cup." "She was a little bit flat today," Peslier said, "but I think she is going to be OK for the Breeders' Cup." Sunday at Longchamp sees a whole host of top-class racing, headed by the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1), in which SEA THE STARS (Cape Cross [Ire]) will bid to win his sixth Group 1 race in as many months. His connections have mentioned the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) as a possible next target. Sunday also features the next European leg of the Breeders' Cup Challenge, the Prix de l'Abbaye (Fr-G1), for which the winner earns a place in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. There are 11 European races in the Breeders' Cup Challenge, an international series of 63 races whose winners earn qualifying positions into a corresponding race at the World Championships, following the payment of applicable entry fees on October 26. The final European Breeders' Cup Challenge race is the Champion S. (Eng-G1) at Newmarket on October 17, for which the victor is guaranteed a place in the $3 million Breeders' Cup Turf (G1).
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