Goldikova Facing Questions After Loss to Immortal Verse
- By A.J. Ryder on August 15, 2011 15:32 GMT
The latest news from Deauville is that living-legend Goldikova has just failed in her attempt to score an incredible 15 Group 1 victories over her stories career. Beaten by 16/1 contender Immortal Verse, the Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard saw Goldikova draw an extremely wide post and track a bit too far back most would say. She came along well in the run-in but Immortal Verse simply came better. Goldikova has few excuses as there was plenty of early speed to aim at and she simply failed to take advantage.
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She was certainly in the mix in the final furlong and a slightly more assertive ride from Olivier Peslier may have done the trick. Being forced wide by Planteur certainly didn't help the popular miler and now connections must decide whether a date with Frankel looms at Ascot for British Champions' Day.
Speaking to the strength of females in Europe's mile division, the 1-2-3 finishers were all fillies or mares despite a majority of the entrants being male. If there is one narrative that continues to build in thoroughbred racing globally, it is the presence of five-star females regularly taking their masculine counterparts to school at the highest level.
One of the preeminent mares of that wave is the aforementioned Goldikova and her quest for an unprecedented fourth Breeders' Cup Mile on the bounce is still set to go ahead despite a few more question marks arising from her recent performances.
Several bookmakers had her as short as 6/4 for the Breeders' Cup Mile, which will be run at Churchill Downs for the second consecutive year. Frankel is said to be running in the Queen Elizabeth II at Ascot, a race at which he trades at 1/4 against Goldikova's 4/1. After Canford Cliffs, Europe's leading miler this season permanently injured himself attempting to chase Frankel (to absolutely no avail) connections may be wondering whether the Ascot trip is really the best idea and they may prefer to prep her in America.
