Goldikova
Encyclopedia
Goldikova is a champion Thoroughbred
racemare
based in France
, although she has raced in North America
and England
. She has won fourteen group one
races, with nine victories over colts and geldings. This puts her above the great Miesque
as the only European-trained horse to have won more than 10 Group I races since their introduction in the 1970s. Goldikova is the only horse to win three Breeders' Cup Mile
races, winning it in 2008, 2009 and 2010.
and Gerard Wertheimer
, who handed over her race conditioning to former champion jockey Freddy Head
. She has been ridden by Olivier Peslier
in all of her race starts.
.
(in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches
and the Prix de Diane
), then had three consecutive wins. The first one came in the Prix Chloe
, followed by the Prix Rothschild, in which she defeated both the French Classic
winner, Darjina, and the British Classic winner, Natagora.
Goldikova's third straight victory of the year came in September at Longchamp Racecourse in the Group 1
Prix du Moulin
in which she defeated Darjina and Natagora again as well as top Irish colt Henrythenavigator
. She again defeated the males in winning the 2008 Breeders' Cup Mile
at Santa Anita Park
in California
and was a finalist for the Eclipse Award's
American Champion Female Turf Horse for 2008.
, finishing seventh on a soft course. In July, she won England's Falmouth Stakes
at Newmarket Racecourse
. On 2 August, she won her second consecutive Prix Rothschild at Deauville-La Touques Racecourse. At the same Deauville course on 16 August, Goldikova won her sixth group one race, easily defeating her male counterparts in the Prix Jacques Le Marois
at Deauville-La Touques Racecourse. Goldikova then returned to Santa Anita Park
to win her second Breeders' Cup Mile, with a different racing style. She was second last for much of the race and at the top of the stretch went five horses wide. Then she changed leads again and surged past Courageous Cat to win in 1:32.26.
in Normandy
until mid February, when she was put back in training at Freddy Head's base at Chantilly Racecourse
.
On 23 May, she won her 2010 debut at Longchamp in the Prix d'Ispahan
, finishing up 9.20f (1 1/8m) in 1:49.4 while holding off Byword (who subsequently won the Prince of Wales's Stakes
at Royal Ascot) and setting a new stakes record in the process.
In her second start of 2010, on 15 June, Goldikova won the Queen Anne Stakes
at Royal Ascot, defeating the 2009 winner Paco Boy by a neck in 1:37.74, taking 0.5 seconds off of the stakes record. It was her ninth group 1 victory, and sixth victory against males.
On 1 August, Goldikova competed a three-peat of wins in the Prix Rothschild. After she settled in third throughout the race, Oliver Peslier barely had to ask an effort of her before she raced away from the rest of the field.
On 15 August in the Prix Jacques le Marois
, two weeks after the Prix Rothschild win, Goldikova suffered her first defeat of the year, second to Makfi
. Her connections believed that it was largely because of the very soft ground, which she has shown her extreme dislike for in the past. However, she beat Paco Boy again for the second time.
On 3 October, Goldikova made her final start before the Breeders' Cup Mile
, defeating a field of 16 males in the Prix de la Forêt
at Longchamp, including Dick Turpin, Paco Boy
, and 1,000 Guineas winner Special Duty. By winning, she broke the record set by Miesque
for the most Group/Grade I wins ever by a European mare.
She made history on 6 November 2010 when she became the first horse to win a Breeders' Cup race three times by winning the Breeders' Cup Mile at Churchill Downs and defended her crown a second consecutive time.
On 16 November Goldikova was awarded with two Cartier Racing Awards, Horse of the Year and Champion Older Horse. She became the only horse to win the Champion Older Horse award twice.
for the second time.
On 14 June Goldikova finished second by ¾ length to Canford Cliffs
in the Queen Anne Stakes
. Jockey Olivier Peslier was fined for being two pounds overweight when he weighed in.
Goldikova set a record for Group/Grade I wins to 14 on 31 July by winning her fourth consecutive Prix Rothschild.
On 15 August, Goldikova attempted to extend her record of Group/Grade I wins to 15 in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville, France. As noted earlier, Goldikova doesn't take to soft ground, which was the case for this year's Prix Jacques le Marois. Goldikova ran second beaten a length to Group I winner Immortal Verse.
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racemare
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
based in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, although she has raced in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. She has won fourteen group one
Group One
Group One or Group 1 is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races in many countries. Group One races may be run under handicap conditions in Australia but in Europe weight-for-age conditions always apply. Races may be also restricted to age groups or a...
races, with nine victories over colts and geldings. This puts her above the great Miesque
Miesque
Miesque was a champion Thoroughbred racemare, best known as the first horse to win two consecutive Breeders' Cups and racing awards in Europe and America. She was a Group one winner at two, three and four-years-old, for a total of 10 G1 wins. She produced five stakes winners.-Breeding:Miesque was...
as the only European-trained horse to have won more than 10 Group I races since their introduction in the 1970s. Goldikova is the only horse to win three Breeders' Cup Mile
Breeders' Cup Mile
The Breeders' Cup Mile is a Grade 1 Weight for Age stakes race for thoroughbred racehorses three years old and up, run on a grass course. It has been conducted annually as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships since the event's inception in 1984...
races, winning it in 2008, 2009 and 2010.
Racing record
She was bred by AlainAlain Wertheimer
Alain Wertheimer is a Jewish French businessman based in France who, with his brother Gerard own the controlling interest in the House of Chanel. The son of Jacques Wertheimer and Eliane Fischer, it was his grandfather Pierre who co-founded the Chanel business...
and Gerard Wertheimer
Gerard Wertheimer
Gerard Wertheimer is a Jewish French businessman based in France who owns and controls the House of Chanel perfume company in partnership with his brother, Alain....
, who handed over her race conditioning to former champion jockey Freddy Head
Freddy Head
Freddy Head is a retired champion jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing and currently a horse trainer. Known also as "Freddie", his grandfather was a jockey as was his father Alec Head who also became a successful trainer and owner of Haras du Quesnay near Deauville...
. She has been ridden by Olivier Peslier
Olivier Peslier
Olivier Peslier is a thoroughbred horse racing jockey.Peslier competes in flat racing mainly in France but travels often around the world for the big international races....
in all of her race starts.
2007
Goldikova won both of her starts at age two, capturing the Prix de Toutevoie and the Prix de la Lorie at Chantilly RacecourseChantilly Racecourse
Chantilly Racecourse is a Thoroughbred turf racecourse for flat racing in Chantilly, Oise, France, about north of the centre of the city of Paris....
.
2008
At age three, Goldikova began the 2008 season in April, running monthly thereafter. She started with two seconds and a third and loss to ZarkavaZarkava
Zarkava is an undefeated French Thoroughbred racehorse whose wins included the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.Bred and raced by HH Aga Khan IV, she was sired by Group II winner Zamindar who also sired the multiple Group One winner, Darjina...
(in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches
Poule d'Essai des Pouliches
The Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, sometimes referred to as the French 1,000 Guineas, is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies...
and the Prix de Diane
Prix de Diane
The Prix de Diane, sometimes referred to as the French Oaks, is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies...
), then had three consecutive wins. The first one came in the Prix Chloe
Prix Chloe
The Prix Chloe is a Group 3 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Chantilly over a distance of 1,800 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late June or early July.-History:...
, followed by the Prix Rothschild, in which she defeated both the French Classic
French Classic Races
In France, the Classics of horse racing are a series of Group One Thoroughbred horse races run annually on the flat. The four races are organized by France Galop.The Prix de Diane is restricted to filles....
winner, Darjina, and the British Classic winner, Natagora.
Goldikova's third straight victory of the year came in September at Longchamp Racecourse in the Group 1
Group One
Group One or Group 1 is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races in many countries. Group One races may be run under handicap conditions in Australia but in Europe weight-for-age conditions always apply. Races may be also restricted to age groups or a...
Prix du Moulin
Prix du Moulin de Longchamp
The Prix du Moulin de Longchamp is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbred colts and fillies aged three years or older...
in which she defeated Darjina and Natagora again as well as top Irish colt Henrythenavigator
Henrythenavigator
Henrythenavigator is an American-bred and Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. He won the 2,000 Guineas, the Irish 2,000 Guineas, the St...
. She again defeated the males in winning the 2008 Breeders' Cup Mile
Breeders' Cup Mile
The Breeders' Cup Mile is a Grade 1 Weight for Age stakes race for thoroughbred racehorses three years old and up, run on a grass course. It has been conducted annually as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships since the event's inception in 1984...
at Santa Anita Park
Santa Anita Park
Santa Anita Park is a thoroughbred racetrack in Arcadia, California, United States. It offers some of the prominent racing events in the United States during the winter and in spring. With its backdrop of the purple San Gabriel Mountains, it is considered by many as the world's most beautiful race...
in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and was a finalist for the Eclipse Award's
Eclipse Award
The Eclipse Award is an American thoroughbred horse racing award named after the 18th century British racehorse and sire, Eclipse. The Eclipse Awards, honoring the champions of the sport, are sponsored by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association , Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers...
American Champion Female Turf Horse for 2008.
2009
Racing at age four, Goldikova made her first start in May's Prix d'IspahanPrix d'Ispahan
The Prix d'Ispahan is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 1,850 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May.-History:...
, finishing seventh on a soft course. In July, she won England's Falmouth Stakes
Falmouth Stakes
The Falmouth Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run on the July Course at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July.-History:The event is named in honour of...
at Newmarket Racecourse
Newmarket Racecourse
The town of Newmarket, in Suffolk, England, is the headquarters of British horseracing, home to the largest cluster of training yards in the country and many key horse racing organisations. Newmarket Racecourse has two courses - the Rowley Mile Course and the July Course. Both are wide, galloping...
. On 2 August, she won her second consecutive Prix Rothschild at Deauville-La Touques Racecourse. At the same Deauville course on 16 August, Goldikova won her sixth group one race, easily defeating her male counterparts in the Prix Jacques Le Marois
Prix Jacques le Marois
The Prix Jacques Le Marois is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbred colts and fillies aged three years or older. It is run at Deauville over a distance of 1,600 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August....
at Deauville-La Touques Racecourse. Goldikova then returned to Santa Anita Park
Santa Anita Park
Santa Anita Park is a thoroughbred racetrack in Arcadia, California, United States. It offers some of the prominent racing events in the United States during the winter and in spring. With its backdrop of the purple San Gabriel Mountains, it is considered by many as the world's most beautiful race...
to win her second Breeders' Cup Mile, with a different racing style. She was second last for much of the race and at the top of the stretch went five horses wide. Then she changed leads again and surged past Courageous Cat to win in 1:32.26.
2010
Following her 2009 Breeders' Cup win at Santa Anita Park, Goldikova was rested at the Head family's Haras du QuesnayHaras du Quesnay
Haras du Quesnay, known as "Le Quesnay", is a thoroughbred horse breeding farm in France about four miles outside the city of Deauville on 3 km², established in 1907 by wealthy American sportsman William Kissam Vanderbilt. He sold the property to another American horseman, A. Kingsley Macomber,...
in Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
until mid February, when she was put back in training at Freddy Head's base at Chantilly Racecourse
Chantilly Racecourse
Chantilly Racecourse is a Thoroughbred turf racecourse for flat racing in Chantilly, Oise, France, about north of the centre of the city of Paris....
.
On 23 May, she won her 2010 debut at Longchamp in the Prix d'Ispahan
Prix d'Ispahan
The Prix d'Ispahan is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 1,850 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May.-History:...
, finishing up 9.20f (1 1/8m) in 1:49.4 while holding off Byword (who subsequently won the Prince of Wales's Stakes
Prince of Wales's Stakes
The Prince of Wales's Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June....
at Royal Ascot) and setting a new stakes record in the process.
In her second start of 2010, on 15 June, Goldikova won the Queen Anne Stakes
Queen Anne Stakes
The Queen Anne Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June....
at Royal Ascot, defeating the 2009 winner Paco Boy by a neck in 1:37.74, taking 0.5 seconds off of the stakes record. It was her ninth group 1 victory, and sixth victory against males.
On 1 August, Goldikova competed a three-peat of wins in the Prix Rothschild. After she settled in third throughout the race, Oliver Peslier barely had to ask an effort of her before she raced away from the rest of the field.
On 15 August in the Prix Jacques le Marois
Prix Jacques le Marois
The Prix Jacques Le Marois is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbred colts and fillies aged three years or older. It is run at Deauville over a distance of 1,600 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August....
, two weeks after the Prix Rothschild win, Goldikova suffered her first defeat of the year, second to Makfi
Makfi
Makfi is by the winner of the Group 1 National Stakes at 2 and the Irish 2,000 Guineas and Prix Jacques Le Marois at 3 Dubawi. Makfi's dam, the unraced Green Desert mare Dhelaal, is a half-sister to dual highweight Alhaarth ....
. Her connections believed that it was largely because of the very soft ground, which she has shown her extreme dislike for in the past. However, she beat Paco Boy again for the second time.
On 3 October, Goldikova made her final start before the Breeders' Cup Mile
Breeders' Cup Mile
The Breeders' Cup Mile is a Grade 1 Weight for Age stakes race for thoroughbred racehorses three years old and up, run on a grass course. It has been conducted annually as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships since the event's inception in 1984...
, defeating a field of 16 males in the Prix de la Forêt
Prix de la Forêt
The Prix de la Forêt is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 1,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late September or early October.-History:The race was established in 1858,...
at Longchamp, including Dick Turpin, Paco Boy
Paco Boy
Paco Boy is a retired thoroughbred racehorse who was trained by Richard Hannon. He won three Group 1 races including Prix de la Forêt, Queen Anne Stakes and Lockinge Stakes. In 2010, he had a rivalry with Goldikova but lost to her four times.-References:**...
, and 1,000 Guineas winner Special Duty. By winning, she broke the record set by Miesque
Miesque
Miesque was a champion Thoroughbred racemare, best known as the first horse to win two consecutive Breeders' Cups and racing awards in Europe and America. She was a Group one winner at two, three and four-years-old, for a total of 10 G1 wins. She produced five stakes winners.-Breeding:Miesque was...
for the most Group/Grade I wins ever by a European mare.
She made history on 6 November 2010 when she became the first horse to win a Breeders' Cup race three times by winning the Breeders' Cup Mile at Churchill Downs and defended her crown a second consecutive time.
On 16 November Goldikova was awarded with two Cartier Racing Awards, Horse of the Year and Champion Older Horse. She became the only horse to win the Champion Older Horse award twice.
2011
Goldikova made her six year old debut on 22 May by winning the Prix d'IspahanPrix d'Ispahan
The Prix d'Ispahan is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 1,850 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May.-History:...
for the second time.
On 14 June Goldikova finished second by ¾ length to Canford Cliffs
Canford Cliffs
Canford Cliffs is an affluent suburb of Poole in Dorset, England. The neighbourhood lies on the English Channel coast midway between Poole and Bournemouth...
in the Queen Anne Stakes
Queen Anne Stakes
The Queen Anne Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June....
. Jockey Olivier Peslier was fined for being two pounds overweight when he weighed in.
Goldikova set a record for Group/Grade I wins to 14 on 31 July by winning her fourth consecutive Prix Rothschild.
On 15 August, Goldikova attempted to extend her record of Group/Grade I wins to 15 in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville, France. As noted earlier, Goldikova doesn't take to soft ground, which was the case for this year's Prix Jacques le Marois. Goldikova ran second beaten a length to Group I winner Immortal Verse.
Tabulated predigree
Placed 3rd in the Breeders Cup Mile on November 5, 2011.External links
- Thoroughbred Times August 3, 2008 article on Goldikova's win in the 2008 Prix Rothschild
- Thoroughbred Times September 7, 2008 article on Goldikova's win in the 2008 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp
- Video at YouTube of Goldikova winning the 2008 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp
- Video at YouTube of Goldikova winning the 2009 Prix Jacques Le Marois