NEWS
Head says competition sets Goldikova apart from Zenyatta
Posted: Thursday, September 02, 2010 7:50 AM
FREDDIE HEAD
John Gilmour photo
by Jeff Lowe
If all goes well during the next few months, Goldikova (Ire) and Zenyatta will share a unique platform on November 6 as they both attempt to become the first three-time Breeders’ Cup winners.
Zenyatta is unbeaten in 18 career starts, including 12 Grade 1 races, with one more ahead of her in early October before attempting to follow up on her dramatic victories in the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Ladies' Classic (G1) and ’09 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).
Reached by phone in France on Wednesday, trainer Freddie Head said Goldikova is as “good as she has ever been” as she targets a third consecutive triumph in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1).
Head praised Zenyatta, but he said Goldikova, a ten-time Grade or Group 1 winner, has faced a stiffer schedule during the past three years.
“Zenyatta is a great, great mare, with a great personality,” said Head, who as a jockey guided Miesque to two consecutive Mile wins in 1987-‘88. “The difference is that Goldikova has met, from her three-year-old year, older colts, which may not be the same for Zenyatta. She met them once in the Breeders’ Cup. All her races have not been in as top class of races as we run in Europe. That’s the only difference between them.”
Unlike Zenyatta, Goldikova has lost—six times—including a second-place finish to Makfi in the Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard-Jacques Le Marois (Fr-G1) in her most recent start on August 15 at Deauville. In 19 career starts, she has finished worse than third just once, a seventh-place finish in her first start of 2009.
As a five-year-old in 2010, Goldikova began her season with wins against males in the Prix d’Ispahan (Fr-G1) and Queen Anne Stakes (Eng-G1), and she beat fillies and mares in the Prix Rothschild (Fr-G1) for the third year in a row.
“She’s very special,” Head said. “She never has a problem, and she always runs her heart out. She’s an adult now, and it’s the best year she’s ever had because she hasn’t run a bad race. She always runs in top-class races.”
Head said Goldikova would prep for the Mile on October 3 in the Prix de la Foret (Fr-G1) on the undercard of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1). She finished third in the same race last year before scoring the Mile repeat from the outside post at Santa Anita Park.
Zenyatta will seek a three-peat on October 2 at Hollywood Park in the Lady’s Secret Stakes (G1), which, according to Daily Racing Form, has been switched back to its original name in deference to owners Jerry and Ann Moss.
The Oak Tree Racing Association named the race in honor of Zenyatta last fall after the Mosses announced their mare’s retirement but reversed course in January and decided to continue racing her.
Trainer John Shirreffs told Daily Racing Form that the Mosses felt “a lot more comfortable” with the original name.
Jeff Lowe is a Thoroughbred Times staff writer
READER COMMENTS
|
|
|
Posted by: John, Somerset, KY on October 20, 2010 at 12:15 AM
For the record: I think Goldikova is one of the greatest race-mares of this generation. She's faced tough competition, both male and female. That said, for Freddie Head to trivialize what Zenyatta has accomplished is ludicrous. Sour grapes because Zenyatta has two more G1 victories than Goldikova. Before anyone starts that "look at the competition they've faced" crap. Both are 2-time Breeders Cup winners. Goldikova in the Mile. Zenyatta in both Classic divisions. Tell you what. All these fillies and mares that Zenyatta get's criticized for racing. Let Goldikova carry 129lbs. And a field full of the same fillies and mares that Zenyatta has faced carry anywhere from 114 to 118lbs. like Zenyatta has done on many occasions. Then let's see how Goldikova comes out of that race? Let's see if she's capable of being saddled with a boulder while the others carry a brick like Zenyatta does race in and race out. Let's see how Goldikova fares in a race of that sort? Before Freddie Head spews anymore of his garbage. JMO.
Report Abuse 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted by: alene, philadelphia, PA on September 23, 2010 at 08:40 AM
Great article. LOVE to hear about Goldikova... She is a very special gal. Not like Zen she is alot smaller in size but not in ability!!! Can`t wait to see her win The Mile...Outstanding mare. Absolutely very special. The girls sure have it over the boys,fellows!!
Report Abuse
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted by: KautoStar, Cambridge, UK, NB on September 13, 2010 at 08:17 PM
I have heard many people say, perhaps on different blogs to this, that they consider her the greatest horse ever. Apologies for assuming you do, but it really rankles me!
Report Abuse
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted by: John, Seattle, WA on September 12, 2010 at 10:27 PM
I think we are talking about two different things here. I have never said, nor have really heard from anyone, that Zenyatta is the greatest racehorse ever. I have only seen and heard Zenyatta being mention with the greatest racehorses such as Secretariat and Man O'War, or from your point of view, Sea Bird, only in the rarest of occasions. My belief is that Zenyatta already is the greatest American female racehorse. That said, according the Bloodhorse's top 100 list Ruffian is at #35 and then it goes to Personal Ensign at #49. Over at Timeform I believe the highest ranked female racehorse is Allez France at #47. That's #35 in America and #47 in Timeform - not very high when you look at it. I believe that if Zenyatta wins her last two races she will break the glass ceiling for female racehorses and enter into the top ten of America's all time greatest racehorses.
Report Abuse
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted by: KautoStar, Cambridge, UK, NB on September 12, 2010 at 08:28 PM
When I say her win streak means nothing, I refer to the fact that people use it as evidence for her being 'the greatest horse ever'. I simply cannot swallow that for a horse that has had such a conservative campaign. She may have won a few tougher races, but for the most part she has completely avoided the top races in the USA. If she doesn't travel well to take on class opposition in other states then fine, but neither has she faced males in the historic races in her own state. Does anyone doubt that she could have won the Big Cap or Hollywood Gold Cup?
Cigar may have had a couple of soft races in his streak, but for the most part he was taking part in the most prestigious races in America. Breeders Cup Classic, Jockey Club Gold Cup, Hollywood Gold Cup, Woodward, Pimilico Special, Donn Handicap, Dubai World Cup. All much more prestigious races than the Vantiy, Clement Hirsch, Apple Blossom and Lady's Secret Stakes. Cigar's connections at least demonstrated a willingness to travel across the country and even to Dubai. And his opponents were hardly shoddy either. The form of his HGC was fantastic and his connections showed willingness to take on Holy Bull (I am aware he sadly broke down) and Skip Away, both champions in their own right. Even when his win streak was broken, they didn't throw in the towel.
Now, I don't believe Cigar to be the greatest horse of all time, far from it, but for comparison purposes, his win streak holds a lot more merit than Zenyatta's. As does Citation's despite the walkover. As does Ribot's, including consecutive Arcs and a King George.
If she wins the Breeders Cup Classic again (which I think she does have a fair chance of doing), I will be the first to say well done. However, I will be vexed because I believe this will reward her connections (who are quite frankly, rather irritating) that a very conservative campaign with no imagination or risks is the best. And I will always think 'what if they had just taken some more risks with her?'
Report Abuse
|
|
|
|
|
|
