Head expounds on Goldikova

"Going to Churchill Downs this year does not change much -- all

the American tracks are about the same. “The weather may be a little cooler. I don't want too much rain. They have

been having a very dry spell there and I hope it lasts. Even if it does rain,

the ground is not going to be as soft as it was at Longchamp the other day (for

the Prix de la Foret).

"She is traveling to America on Saturday -- it takes 12 hours -- she ships to

Louisville or Lexington with a stop at (London) Stansted to put the English horses on the

plane. She is a very good traveler and does not sweat much.

"We had a very bad draw last year -- we had ridden from the front in the Prix

de la Foret and got beat and so I told Olivier (Peslier) to wait a bit with her

-- he was a bit further back than we wanted but that is the way races turn out. I was a little worried for sure

-- she was a long way behind the leaders in

the back straight.  But Olivier knew what he was doing.

"This year we led again in the Prix de la Foret but she did not fight with

him -- that was the big difference. She is very fast -- she loves the speed. There

is no doubt that is why she is so brilliant in the States because they start

fast which we do not do here -- the stalls open and everybody stops and holds

back. The faster they go, the better she is and firm ground is good for her.

"She

does a seven-furlong gallop every day -- usually she goes out second lot at

9.30 a.m. or so. Her last good work will be on Thursday with Olivier but she does not need

much -- she is very forward in her preparation. She will then just tick over in

America.

"The draw is going to be important in America. I don't want Goldikova to be

drawn on the outside again. It will be up to Olivier how he rides the race -- you

have to let jockeys do what they want.

"PACO BOY (Desert Style) is a super horse -- so tough and genuine. GIO PONTI

(Tale of the Cat), if he runs, will

be the one to beat this year I suppose -- he is a very good horse -- second in the

(Breeders' Cup) Classic (G1) last year. PROVISO (GB) (Dansili [GB]) is a good mare

-- normally we have beaten her but she is at home over there now."

Goldikova, owned by the Wertheimer brothers, Alain and Gerard, came to join

Head's string by chance.

"With the Wertheimers, we trainers all put in a list of the

yearlings we like best," Head explained. "Goldikova was very high in my list and they chose to

give her to me -- it was sheer luck.

"I get about 18 yearlings from the Wertheimers each year. I rode Anabaa, her

sire, but I did not train the dam (Born Gold [Blushing Groom (Fr)]) -- my sister Criquette did.

"I thought she was a very nice looking yearling -- she had everything and good

looks. She is a total bay -- no white hairs. I go to the Wertheimers' farm near

Deauville two or three times a year -- there is a  lovely stud there.

"When she was two and I returned from Deauville that year, she started to

work and she was going very well. She won very easily first time out at Chantilly and I thought to run her in

the Prix Marcel Boussac (Fr-G1) but Zarkava had been very impressive and I didn't

want to take her on -- Goldikova wasn't ready for that. I ran her in another normal race and she won that

-- I knew then that she was

good but I didn't know how good she was going to be.

"In the spring of her three-year-old career, she got beat on very soft ground

and then she was second to Zarkava in the French (One Thousand) Guineas (Fr-G1). We ran in the Prix

de Diane (Fr-G1) which was a little far and she finished third behind Zarkava again. At that time, I said she was good but maybe not that good. Then she won a

mile Group 3 at Maisons-Laffitte easily and I knew then there was something

special.

"She is much tougher now and she has improved with age -- I think she was very

backward. She is a bit funny in her box -- you cannot pat her -- she can come at

you, biting and she can kick if she does not like you. She has had the same lad

throughout and he can do anything with her."

At this point, the Breeders' Cup Mile is her last intended race but there is

a possibility of this changing.

"The Wertheimers love racing -- for them it is what they like -- to have a

horse like her is everything. The stress of her running -- that is their

pleasure.

"The Wertheimers' grandfather started the breeding. Last year, the

Wertheimers said they were going to keep Goldikova in training -- the main goal

was to go back to the Breeders' Cup. They love that race. Alain Wertheimer lives

in America so winning the Breeders' Cup has always been the main target.

"We are not talking about whether she will run after the Breeders' Cup -- for

the moment she won't race any more."

Head believes that Goldikova is a one-off.

"She is extraordinary -- for a trainer to have a horse like her is

unbelievable -- I don't think I will train a better horse -- she is very special. To watch her in the morning and in the afternoon, she gives exactly the same

-- she is brilliant -- cantering she is always free with a beautiful action. She

is a dream to train -- you can do whatever you want with a  horse like that.

"She takes a good hold -- she is that sort of horse -- she has so much gas.

With time, she has got a bit naughtier I suppose. She is very sound, has the will and is happy. She does not race much

-- she

runs five or six races a year so we have not over-raced her.

"She is happy -- in a great routine. Training is routine -- 90 per cent routine

and 10 per cent inspiration. It is a bit stressful to train her sometimes but -- touch wood

-- she has been

very, very easy. She has never had anything wrong and has been very sound.

"I don't think I will ever have a horse like her again -- winning so many

Group 1s. Maybe I will have one who

for a short time is as good but she is very special because she is as good as

she was three years ago -- that is very rare.

"There is a bit of pressure but I am relaxed -- things are going well at the

moment. I think she is well -- this is racing and we are not sure to win.

"It is a bit special trying to win three Breeders' Cup races. It would be

great to happen. I have been lucky enough to both ride (two Breeders' Cup Mile

victories on Miesque) and train winners at the Breeders' Cup.

"I take great pleasure in training. I have a very small string -- 70 horses

right now. I can have 100 and I think I will get that number at the start of

next season. I have very good owners.

“It was the challenge -- to see if I could do it like all my ancestors."