Goldikova, a 2009 Eclipse Award and Cartier Award winner for brothers Alain and Gerard Wertheimer, might make her 5-year-old debut at England’s Royal Ascot meeting in June, according to the Racing Post. The 5-year-old Irish-bred mare has arrived back at trainer Freddie Head’s stable following a winter break at her owners’ Haras de Saint-Leonard in Normandy, France.
“She has had a nice break of three months, and we find her in very good shape,” racing manager Pierre-Yves Bureau told the Racing Post. “Goldie appeared to enjoy herself down at the farm and liked the snow.”
Goldikova, who won the TVG Breeders’ Cup Mile (gr. IT) at Oak Tree at Santa Anita in November in her last start, has raced just once in England. In July of 2009, she won the mile Etihad Airways Falmouth Stakes (Eng-I) at Newmarket in her second start of the year and was honored with an English championship at the year's end. Her first start of 2009 had come in the Prix d’Ispahan (Fr-I), in which she finished unplaced.
Following the Falmouth, Goldikova won a pair of French group I events and was third in another before winning the Breeders’ Cup Mile for the second consecutive year.
"The main objective this season is to win a third Breeders' Cup Mile, and we don't know where she will start this season although it could be in the Queen Anne Stakes (Eng-I) at Royal Ascot,” Bureau said.
This year’s Breeders’ Cup Mile will be held at Churchill Downs.
Goldikova is tied with Lure, Miesque, and Da Hoss with two Mile wins. Another will be a record in any Breeders' Cup division.
Ridden in all her races by Olivier Peslier, Goldikova (Anabaa--Born Gold, by Blushing Groom) has won 10 races, placed in four others, and earned $4,090,090.
