Goldikova rules in head and heart
The old saying that it is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all is probably a little lost of Freddie Head.
Not in translation, like rest of the British-descended dynasty he retains strong anglophile links, but the two great females in Head’s racing career have been serial winners. When he was the six-times champion jockey of France, Head rode Miesque in the late 1980s to win 12 of her 16 starts.
Ten of those victories came in Group or Grade One races, which was the outright record for a horse since the inception of the European Pattern in 1971 until 10 days ago when Head saddled Goldikova to win the Prix Rothschild at Deauville for the third year running. And now Goldikova can claim sole ownership of that accomplishment if she wins the Prix Jacques le Marois back at Deauville this Sunday.
As ever Head does his best to avoid the inevitable comparisons between the two mares, which are only intensified because their careers have followed such similar paths. Both specialist milers, who having taken on the best in Europe, and won, and then defined themselves as worthy of a place in any debate about great horses of French racing by winning in America not once, but twice, in the Breeders’ Cup Mile.
A career in the sport that spans more than 40 years gives Head a proper sense of perspective with which to view Goldikova’s career and he does not need to resort to hyperbole when discussing her career. “She’s one of the best, of course. There has been a lot of good horses I’ve have ridden for one or two races, but she runs up to her best all the time. That’s what makes her very special. I think Miesque was a great filly too - but it’s very difficult to compare.”
While Miesque hit the heights as a two-year-old and then won the 1000 Guineas and the French equivalent, the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, Goldikova was beaten in her two attempts in French Classics, although Head points out that the defeats were inflicted by mighty opposition. “Don’t forget that she fell on Zarkava in the Guineas and the Prix de Dianne. Without Zarkava, who was an exceptional horse too, I think she would have won the French Guineas and the Prix de Dianne. That would have put her in a class of her own.”
Goldikova has been in a class of her own this season, with three Group One wins from as many starts, which included a battling display to hold off Paco Boy in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot. And, like fine wine, she appears to be maturing with age. “I think she’s as well as she’s ever been,” Head said. “I was very happy with the last run because at Ascot she had a very tough race and I wondered how she would come out of that race. But she showed that she was at her best.”
Richard Hannon is bringing Paco Boy to Deauville for a return in a race that has nine runners still left in the field, which includes a couple of other Head-trained pacemakers, Only Green and Saying USA.
The USA, and a third Breeders’ Cup Mile at Churchill Downs in November, is on the horizon but matters closer to home occupy Head’s thoughts at present because no amount of success will seduce him from the belief that “there’s no invincible horses”.
“Ascot is a very tough mile and I think, at the end, she got a bit tired. And we had to travel to England and it’s different here. She loves it here and she loves the course,” he said. “It’s going to be a different race – it’s going to be tough to beat Paco Boy because they’ll be few runners so he’ll be closer than last time. The only thing is we’re going to be in our garden and he will have to come here.”
While everything in Head’s personal garden may be looking a fetching shade of rosy, the obvious dark cloud will be the day when his stable star is retired to the breeding paddocks. But her owners, Alain and Gerard Wertheimer, may yet decide to carry on for another season. “Nothing’s definite yet,” Head explained. “They’re very sporting people, they love racing, they will never have one like her I suppose – it’s not impossible.”
Trying to unravel just what makes Goldikova so special could be mission impossible but Head has got it pretty much worked out. “She’s a bit like a male. You wouldn’t go in her box and she has her own way but she’s very easy to train because she does her best all the time. What she does is run, run and run as fast as she can. She got the body, she’s got the nerve, she must have a big heart, she’s very sound and that’s the difference.”
But when it comes to choosing the difference between Miesque and Goldikova, and who he would have ridden if they could have met on a racecourse, Head holds back. “I don’t know,” he said with a laugh as he deflected the question. “But let’s say that she’s an easier horse to ride and train than Miesque – no doubt.”
Anyone else would probably just love to have the choice.
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