Triple G1 Breeders’ Cup Mile heroine Goldikova is gearing up for her seasonal debut in the G1 Prix d’Ispahan at Longchamp.

Goldikova will take a familiar path in her final year of racing.  The French darling will start second-up in the G1 Queen Anne at Royal Ascot followed by the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois.  She will then attempt a fourth Breeders’ Cup Mile crown at Churchill Downs on November 5.

“Goldikova is as well as she’s ever been after having a spell with her owners in Normandy,” trainer Freddy Head said on the weekend.  “She’s a six-year-old and is mature but she’s not an old lady just yet.”

Goldikova (6m Anabaa – Born Gold by Blushing Groom) is a homebred for Gerard and Alain Wertheimer and has claimed 12 Group 1 victories which eclipses the previous benchmark set by Miesque.

“If she wins the Breeders’ Cup we could go for the G1 Hong Kong Mile,” Head added.  “Either way, she will be retired at the end of the year.”

Besides three Breeders’ Cup Miles, Goldikova has won the Prix Rothschild three times and the remainder of her Group 1 wins are rounded out by the 2008 Prix du Moulin, 2009 Prix Jacques le Marois, 2009 Falmouth Stakes, 2010 Prix D’Ispahan, 2010 Queen Anne Stakes and 2010 Prix de la Foret.

Goldikova is by deceased Widden shuttler Anabaa.  The son of Danzig was given to the Head family by Sheikh Mohammed and he developed into a G1 winner of the 1996 July Cup and Prix Maurice de Gheest.

Anabaa (Danzig) shuttled between France and Australia until 1997.  His southern hemisphere bred Group 1 winners include Yell, Virage De Fortune, Headturner, Imananabaa, and Anacheeva.

Head partnered Miesque and Anabaa before switching from riding to training.  “Goldikova is just one of those great racehorses that come around so rarely.  I’m so lucky to be her trainer.”