Trainer Freddie Head said Tuesday that owners Alain and Gerard Wertheimer are strongly considering a 2010 campaign for Goldikova, who will attempt to win the Mile for the second consecutive year on Saturday.
"There could be a next year, but I don't want to talk about it yet," Head said. "I know Alain and Gerard have thought about it. They wouldn't mind racing her at 5, if she's well."
Bred by the Wertheimers, Goldikova has won 9 of 14 starts and has had a strong season. She won three consecutive Group 1 races in England and France in July and August, but finished third, beaten a half-length, at 2-5 in the Group 1 Prix de la Foret at Longchamp in France on Oct. 3.
Head said that she was too close to a fast pace in the seven-furlong Prix de la Foret.
"The jockey thought there was no match for her," Head said. "She went very fast."
Despite the loss, Goldikova will be favored in the Mile, seeking the eighth stakes win of her career.
For Head, winning Saturday's race again would be especially poignant. He was the regular rider of Miesque, who won the 1987 and 1988 Breeders' Cup Miles, and is the only female to win the race twice.
OAK TREE AT SANTA ANITA, Saturday November 07, 2009 - Race 6
TVG Breeders' Cup Mile - Grade: 1
Purse: $2,000,000 |
Distance/Restrictions:
1M, Turf, 3 Year Olds and Up, STAKES
|
Winning Time: 1:32.26
Pgm
Horse
Jockey
Win
Place
Show
11
Goldikova
Olivier Peslier
4.80
4.00
2.60
6
Courageous Cat
Garrett K. Gomez
12.80
8.00
10
Justenuffhumor
Alan Garcia
8.00
Times in 100ths::22.98
:45.22
1:08.34
1:20.47
1:32.26
Unplaced horses listed in order of finish. Also ran:Court Vision, Delegator, Karelian, Ferneley, Whatsthescript, Gladiatorus, Cowboy Cal and Zacinto
Winning Breeder:Wertheimer et Frere Winning Trainer:Frederic Head Winning Owner:Wertheimer and Frere
Wager Type
Winning Numbers
Payoff
$2 Daily Double
7-11
$224.60
$1 Exacta
11-6
$54.60
$1 Superfecta
11-6-10-1
$6,628.80
$1 Trifecta
11-6-10
$705.30
$1 Pick 3
6-7-11
$2,923.40
Race Comments: GOLDIKOVA (IRE) angled in and settled off the pace outside a rival, split horses leaving the second turn, came out four wide into the stretch, drifted in some then came out under urging past midstretch and rallied to the front in deep stretch to gamely prevail. COURAGEOUS CAT chased a bit off the rail, came out leaving the second turn and three deep into the stretch, took the advantage and inched away in the drive, drifted out some past midstretch and held on well to deep stretch, then continued willingly to the wire. JUSTENUFFHUMOR angled in and raced unhurried along the inside, came out into the stretch, split rivals in midstretch and again in deep stretch and finished well. COURT VISION saved ground chasing the pace, came out into the stretch, split horses in midstretch, bid inside in deep stretch and also went on willingly to the end. DELEGATOR (GB) between foes early, chased inside, came out leaving the second turn and three deep into the stretch, was between horses in midstretch and could not offer the necessary late response. KARELIAN chased outside a rival then came out leaving the first turn, angled to the inside on the backstretch, saved ground on the second turn, came out in upper stretch, split horses in midstretch and lacked the needed rally. FERNELEY (IRE) settled outside then chased three deep, came out leaving the second turn, was fanned seven wide into the stretch and did not rally. WHATSTHESCRIPT (IRE) stalked inside then outside a rival, angled in a bit off the rail on the second turn, was between horses leaving that turn and weakened. GLADIATORUS pulled his way along four wide then dueled outside a rival, inched away into the backstretch and angled in, set the pace inside, fought back along the fence on the second turn and weakened in the stretch. COWBOY CAL had speed between foes then inside to force the pace, stalked a bit off the rail on the backstretch, bid alongside GLADIATORUS again on the second turn, put a head in front between foes into the stretch, fell back between rivals in midstretch and weakened. ZACINTO (GB) a step slow to begin, chased just off the rail then outside a rival, was three deep leaving the second turn, drifted six wide into the stretch, gave way and was eased in the drive.
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