Galikova has a little way to go yet before she can be compared to her illustrious big sister Goldikova, but she started off in the right direction by winning her racecourse debut Sept. 18 at Longchamp.
A 2-year-old half-sister to the two-time Breeders’ Cup Mile (gr. IT) winner, Galikova captured the Prix de La Cascade, a one mile maiden contest for unraced juvenile fillies.
Ridden by Olivier Peslier, Galikova broke alertly and was rated just off the early leader, Soliste. Peslier and Galikova continued to shadow Soliste throughout the early stages of the race. But as the field entered the home straight, Galikova shot to the lead and drew away to win easily by 1 1/2 lengths under a hand ride. Shamardanse finished second, a length in front of Blue Hollow.
Warm Hands, a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Treat Gently, finished fourth. Final time for the eight furlongs was 1:45.90 over a course rated as good.
Like her older sibling, Galikova is trained by Freddy Head for owners Alain and Gerard Wertheimer. She is by Galileo out of Born Gold, by Blushing Groom. Born Gold produced a full brother (by Anabaa) to Goldikova earlier this year.