Goldikova wins Breeders' Cup Mile

ARCADIA, California (AFP) --

Goldikova, trained by Freddy Head and ridden by Olivier Peslier won the two million-dollar Breeders' Cup Mile at Santa Anita Park on Saturday.

Goldikova matched the exploit of legendary filly Miesque, who won back-to-back Mile crowns in 1987-88 - with Head aboard.

Her victory here last year had already made Head, 62, the first man to win a Breeders' Cup race as both a jockey and a trainer.

"To have ridden a filly like Miesque is one thing to have trained one like Goldikova is another," said Head, son of legendary trainer Alec and brother of well respected trainer Criquette.

"She (Goldikova) is extraordinary and what a burst of speed she had!"

Peslier, who is a household name in Japan but is due to ride in Saudi Arabia among other countries in the coming months, said she had travelled well throughgout.

"She is courageous and extraordinary," said Peslier.

"I was always relaxed with her as I knew the Godolphin horse Gladiatorus would set the pace and we could sit back and wait."

Courageous Cat, a 33-1 shot trained by Bill Mott and ridden by Garrett Gomez, was second, and Justenuffhumor, trained by Kiaran McLaughlin and ridden by Alan Garcia, was third.

Peslier had to overcame Goldikova's unfavorable draw in the outside 11th post. She was second-to-last after a quarter of a mile as Gladiatorus set the early pace.

When Goldikova at last made her move, she powered to the front for a brilliant victory.

In the Juvenile, Vale of York gave Godolphin an upset triumph.

Under Ahmed Ajtebi, Vale of York came on strong in the final straight snatching the victory at the wire.

The Bob Baffert-trained Lookin At Lucky went off the favorite with Garrett Gomez aboard, but was hampered by the outside 13th post in the 1 1/16-mile race for two-year-old colts and geldings.

Noble's Promise, trained by Kenneth McPeek and ridden by Willie Martinez, was third.

"He ran a huge race," said victorious trainer Saeed Bin Suroor.

"I fancied the horse before the race. He was improving all the time. He ran a big race last time when he finished second in a Group 1 (Gran Criterium) in Italy."

With the win, Vale of York established himself as an early favorite for next year's Kentucky Derby, although only Street Sense has pulled off the Juvenile-Derby double since the Breeders' Cup began in 1984.

"Every time he's come for a race he's handled everything really well. He's a tough horse, and next year we'll bring him for the Kentucky Derb," said bin Suroor.

Gomez said Lookin At Lucky was bumped a couple of times around the first turn, but Ajtebi had no such problems.

"I had a very good trip," Ajtebi said after his first Breeders' Cup win. "The last time I rode this horse (in the Gran Criterium) about three weeks ago in Italy he was very unlucky. We were going to win, and he saw the crowd and he stopped himself. By the time I got him going, we got beat. He was unlucky to lose the time before that also. Today it all went well. When I shifted him out, he just went and he was strong enough at the finish to get it done."

Baffert, convinced of his horse's quality, was disappointed.

"He showed today what a good horse he is," Baffert said. "It?s just frustrating to know you have much the best horse and to come up short like that. I didn?t give him any chance at all at the half-mile pole. At least you know that you can look forward to the Derby."

Godolphin, led by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, have never won the Kentucky Derby.

They fielded two entries this year, Regal Ransom and Desert Party, who finished eighth and 14th.

Vale of York's connections said the horse will to back to Dubai and likely race a couple of stakes races prior to the Kentucky Derby next May.

"We need to make it through the next stage first before we can make any firm commitments," said Simon Crisford, Godolphin's racing manager. "But of all the 2-year-olds we have right now, he would be the one we're looking at Churchill Downs."


Copyright © 2009 AFP All Rights Reserved

Times of the Internet, now in Spanish


Published: Saturday 07th of November 2009 06:05:33 PM
Print | Email Friend |
Receive updates via Twitter

Like this article? Then submit it to your favorite social network to share with others.
Bookmark and Share
Subscribe to Top News RSS Feed: rss feed news
Read more news stories in news.

Read the last five articles in the NEWS category