Breeders' Cup Legends: Goldikova

Goldikova collects her second of three Breeders' Cup Mile victories in 2009. (Photos by Eclipse Sportswire)
Breeders’ Cup races are difficult to win. At an event that brings together the best Thoroughbreds from around the world, a horse that has been dominant all year will face a whole new slew of challengers. Toss in a new environment and track and add the uncertainty that is racing and the Breeders’ Cup is a recipe for upsets- or for the crowning of a true champion. For a horse to win a Breeders’ Cup race twice is a rare and outstanding achievement, but for a horse to win one three times? That’s the stuff of legend.
Goldikova is the only Thoroughbred to accomplish such a feat.
The list of horses that have won two Breeders’ Cups reads like a who’s who of racehorses of the last 30 years: Bayakoa, Midnight Lute, Miesque, Ouija Board, Tiznow, Zenyatta. More recently names like Beholder, Groupie Doll, Mizdirection, Royal Delta and Wise Dan have been added. But Goldikova’s is the only name found on the list of those who have won three Breeders’ Cups.
An Irish-bred filly with a penchant for the turf, Goldikova was bred and raced by the Wertheimer brothers of Chanel fame. She is a daughter of Anaaba, out of the Blushing Groom mare Born Gold and a half-sister to four graded stakes winners. Goldikova was trained in France by former jockey Freddie Head, who had ridden her sire Anaaba in all but one of his races. Goldikova herself was piloted by Olivier Peslier in each of her 27 career starts.
GOLDIKOVA TRAINING IN FRANCE

Goldikova began her career with style, winning her first two starts as a 2-year-old in France. She got her sophomore season started in April of 2008 with a runner-up effort in the Prix Du Louvre before diving into the French classics. Goldikova finished second to future Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Zarkava in the French One Thousand Guineas and third to Zarkava in the French Oaks. Goldikova then won a Group 3 and a pair of Group 1 races ahead of her first Breeders’ Cup Mile try.
The 2008 Breeders’ Cup Mile marked Goldikova’s North American debut, though her reputation preceded her. The filly went off as the heavy favorite and her backers were rewarded when she turned in a dazzling performance. Goldikova broke well from post 4 and was taken hold of in second position. She and Peslier stalked the pace at every call of the Santa Anita oval and came to the top of the stretch in fourth behind a wall of horses. The pair waited for an opening and when it came nearing the eighth pole, Goldikova displayed an explosive turn of foot to split horses and draw off for a 1 ¼-length win over 2007 Breeders’ Cup Mile champ Kip Deville.
2008 BREEDERS’ CUP MILE

Goldikova’s 4-year-old season opened with a sub-par effort on soft ground but closed with another brilliant performance on the Breeders’ Cup stage. After a seventh-place finish in the Prix d’Ispahan, Goldikova rebounded with three consecutive victories and a third place finish in a Group 1. Her win in the Prix Jacques le Marois prompted trainer Head to remark that her ability exceeded even that of the legendary Miesque, two-time Breeders’ Cup Mile winner and multiple champion. Head has the authority to speak on the two fillies, as trainer of Goldikova and the regular rider of Miesque throughout her career. In October, Goldikova again made the 5,000-mile journey to Southern California to defend her Breeders’ Cup title.
The filly’s odds were even shorter for the 2009 edition and again Goldikova showed up. In a reversal of tactics from 2008, Peslier took Goldikova to the back of the pack after breaking from the outside post. They traveled in second-to-last place while Gladiatorus set a quick pace before commencing a rally on the turn for home. Goldikova found room and rolled down the center of the lane to win by a half-length and notch her seventh victory at the sport’s highest level.
2009 BREEDERS’ CUP MILE

In what was possibly her best year of racing, Goldikova opened her 5-year-old season with a Group 1 win and didn’t look back with three wins in four starts heading into the 2010 Breeders’ Cup. This time she would try conditions more similar to France in a Breeders’ Cup Mile hosted by Churchill Downs. Goldikova and Peslier cruised around the Louisville track in mid-pack in what was a third different strategy in as many Breeders’ Cup tries. She moved into second at the top of the stretch, kicked past a tiring Sidney’s Candy and held off Gio Ponti to win by 1 ¾ lengths over the firm turf in a historic performance. With the victory she became the first and only three-time Breeders’ Cup winner.
2010 BREEDERS’ CUP MILE

Goldikova embarked on her final season of racing with a win in the Prix d’Ispahan. She finished second in the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot before capturing the Prix Rothschild at Deauville and tallying her 14th career Grade or Group 1 victory. After two runner-up finishes she again traversed the Atlantic to take on her fourth Breeders’ Cup Mile field at Churchill Downs.
Goldikova traveled in mid-pack and made the lead in the stretch over the good going. For a moment it appeared she would score a fourth consecutive Breeders’ Cup victory, but those hopes were soon dashed as Court Vision and Turallure steamed down the center of the track in tandem. They overtook the French heroine at the sixteenth pole and she was defeated by a length. Court Vision was the victor in a tight photo finish.
Goldikova was retired after the 2011 Breeders’ Cup with a career mark of 17 wins, six seconds, and three thirds in 27 starts, including 14 Grade or Group 1 wins. She amassed more than $7.1-million in earnings in five seasons of racing. Among her titles were American champion grass mare (2009 and 2010), European champion older horse (2009) and European champion older mare (2010).
In the breeding shed Goldikova has produced two foals to date, a colt and a filly both by Galileo. If either can match their dam’s turf prowess the racing world is in for a treat.