Goldikova eyes to go fourth with Frankel in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at the Ascot for the ultimate showdown
The champion 6-year-old brown mare Goldikova made a strong statement on31 July, 2011, that she is still got what it takes to win big races, as she won the Group 1 Prix Rothschild at Deauville for the record breaking fourth time, extending her own legendary
status.
The post race euphoria has spurred up some spicy developments, for instance, Goldikova’s trainer, Freddy Head, came out in the open and said he would not have any qualms over taking on the world class, unbeaten Frankel at the Ascot.
Both horses are likely to start next in the QIPCO Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on 15 October, 2011, on British Champions’ Day and, if the circumstances allow the two will meet to fly some sparks at the Ascot.
Goldikova recently landed her 14th Group 1 race of her illustrious career, with 17 wins out of 24 starts, four times finishing second and twice third in the whole of her career. Goldikova Deauville triumph got her earning soaring up to a whopping
£4,060,601.
Freddy Head seems pretty serious about the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, but he still thinks if the conditions are right at the Ascot then the meet is under consideration. Last year Goldikova suffered a defeat on a soft ground to Makfi in the Group 1 Jacques
Le Marois on 15 August, 2010 at Deauville.
Goldikova is scheduled to run in the Jacques Le Marois next, and the last year defeat will be hovering over the mare’s connections, but it’s a give that the ground has to be firm.
Freddy Head revealed that they wouldn’t go to the Marois is they going is soft over there, though Goldikova ran like a young horse in the Prix Rothschild, but she is still six years old and that it is wise to take it on race by race.
If the daughter of Anabaa skips the French meet, then she is a must for the QIPCO Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, where Frankel is destined to go after his thrashing defeat to Canford Cliffs in the Sussex Stakes.
Richard Hannon trained Canford Cliffs defeated Goldikova in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes on 14 June, 2011, at the Royal Ascot.
Owned and bred by Wertheimer & Frere, Goldikova’s main aim would be to win the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Churchill Downs on 4 November, 2011.
The last time Goldikova was at Churchill Downs, she was there to run in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile over turf at a distance of 1 mile. She took on a field of 10 other horses.
She defeated the Christophe Clement trained Gio Ponti by 1 ¾ lengths that day to claim the Breeders’ Cup Mile.
Tags: