Goldikova is an even-money chance of returning to the United States next year in a bid to secure a fourth Breeders’ Cup crown.
The dust had hardly settled on the French mare’s unprecedented hat-trick of B.C. Mile victories before trainer Freddie Head indicated she could return to Louisville in 12 months time. “Let’s just say there’s a 50-50 chance of her racing on next year,” Head said. “There’s no reason why she couldn’t be just as good as a six year-old.”
Goldikova (5m Anabaa – Born Gold by Blushing Groom) is a homebred for Gerard and Alain Wertheimer and the brothers will sit down and discuss options for their all-conquering mare next week. “It’s a very difficult choice for the owners,” Head explained. “She is very special and there are always risks. I’ll let them decide.”
Goldikova increased her Group 1 tally to 12 on Saturday and she is the only horse to have won the B.C. Mile three times eclipsing double winners Lure (1992-93) and Da Hoss (1996, 1998).
Champion colt Workforce could also stay in training in 2011 for a belated crack at the Breeders’ Cup which will be run at Churchill Downs again next year.
Workforce (3c King’s Best – Soviet Moon by Sadler’s Wells) was a late scratching from the Breeders’ Cup Turf due to firm ground. It prevented the Juddmonte Farms colt from completing an unprecedented treble on the back of victories in the English Derby and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
Trainer Sir Michael Stoute and owner Khalid Abdullah were concerned the fast ground would have been detrimental to the colt’s long-term future bearing in mind it would have been only his sixth lifetime start.
Workforce will be the first English Derby winner to stay in training since 2006 winner Sir Percy.