Goldikova Facing Tough Test in Breeders' Cup Mile
- By A.J. Ryder on September 7, 2011 23:11 GMT
The betting exchanges have just launched their ante post wagering markets for the Breeders' Cup, which kicks off this year at Churchill Downs in Kentucky. While the two-day event's feature contest – the Breeders' Cup Classic has been seeing some wagering for several months now, things are just starting to heat up for the 2011 Breeders' Cup Mile as well.
CLICK HERE FOR YOUR FREE BET WITH BETFAIR!
It's hard to ignore the major story coming into this race – one that should capture the imaginations of racing fans worldwide as the living legend Goldikova seeks an unprecedented fourth Breeders' Cup Mile on the bounce.
The Irish-bred mare does the majority of her running in France and she's won two and placed in two ths year – beaten only by Canford Cliffs (retired after his duel with Frankel) and Immortal Verse in the Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville. The only really genuinely tough run she has ever had was a three-race sequence where she lost out at three to Arc winner Zarkava. Since then, Goldikova has strung together an epic sequence of Group 1 scores.
While Frankel has a price being floated on the exchange, connections have already cooled any talk that he would venture state-side this year, though they haven't ruled it out as part of his expected four-year-old campaign.
German 2000 Guineas winner Excelebration is taking a fair amount of money as he emerges as one of the biggest rivals to Goldikova's fortunes. He also captured the CGA Hungerford Stakes at Newbury a few weeks back to see his price shorten.
Immortal Verse, a three-year-old filly, got the better of Goldikova last time out and it would certainly be seen as a passing of the torch if she was to venture Kentucky and pip Goldikova by a length once more. Expect a short price for the daughter of Pivotal.
The American contender to keep your eye on is Pacific Classic winner Acclamation who is now eligible to run in the Classic but may opt for the Mile instead. Dick Turpin, Gio Ponti, Dubawi Gold and Cape Blanco are also being bandied about as potential mile contenders.
