Courageous Cat gets another shot at Breeders’ Cup Mile against Goldikova to settle past score
Bill Mott trained 5-year-old horse, Courageous Cat, will run in a Breeders’ Cup race after a year’s absence, and the last time she appeared in one, she was second best to one of the top mares in the world, Goldikova.
In 2009 Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile, the race drew a strong lineup including the prolific Goldikova who took things by the scruff of the neck and won the Mile at Santa Anita Park, but Courageous Cat wasn’t far behind as the fast closing in horse finished second.
This year the two protagonists have entered the race yet again, and the connections of Courageous Cat would be hoping that a second chance against Goldikova is enough.
Like always Courageous Cat will be a tricky horse to ride, and if he goes into the lead too soon he has a habit of pulling back and giving his opponents a sniff.
In 2009, Garrett Gomez was aboard Courageous Cat for the first time, and the same thing happened, the son Storm Cat, out of Tranquility Lake by Rahy, Courageous Cat shot to the lead at the head of the stretch and comfortably opened up a 1 ½ length lead.
Courageous Cat held on well, but suddenly cut down on pace gave Goldikova everything that she needed, as she rallied down the stretch taking Garrett Gomez and Courageous Cat by surprise to win the race by half a length.
The Bill Mott trained runner had the golden opportunity to end Goldikova’s Breeders’ Cup Mile winning streak at just one two years ago, but she went on to win the 2009 one and continued on to annex the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Mile to make it three in row.
Goldikova will be the one more confident going into the Breeders’ Cup, with an unbeaten 3 in as many starts streak, and the rematch will be held at Churchill Downs on 5 November, 2011.
Timing is going to be the key for Courageous Cat, and Patrick Valenzuela who will be have the runner this time around, and he learned the hard way as well when Courageous Cat gave away a lead to lose the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile.
Tags: