Goldikova: Victory Again

Royal Ascot was rocked to it’s very core June 15^th as one of the greatest race mares in history turned one of England’s most prestigious races into a rout. In one of her most exciting races to date, multiple champion Goldikova further padded her impressive resume in the Queen Anne Stakes (Eng-1) against an impressive field of older male runners. Included in the field was last year’s Queen Anne Stakes winner Paco Boy who entered off a very impressive group 1 win. Down to the wire it proved to be a two horse race with the favorites taking center stage.

As the field entered the long homestretch Goldikova launched from just off the pace to seize the lead and in the blink of an eye had opened up three lengths on the field. From mid pack Paco Boy had a tougher time getting into contention but when he finally got in the clear and kicked it into high gear he began to rapidly close the gap between separating him from the speeding mare. The noise from the crowd was deafening as the brilliant champion pounded down the turf course, Paco Boy charging hard behind, the wire just seconds away now. The lead was down to a mere length as Paco Boy continued his unrelenting drive. Closer and closer he came to Goldikova, at the wire the margin of win was so close it appeared that perhaps the mare had lost the advantage. In the end though she proved too great for her challenger, in fact she still looked full of fight galloping out afterwards making onethink she could have held on longer if the need had arisen.

Goldikova achieved horse racing immortality last year when she became only the second horse in history to ever win back-to-back Breeders’ Cup Mile’s (gr.1). With her year-end goal once again being an unprecedented attempt at winning her third consecutive Breeders’ Cup Mile she would make a compelling case for being the greatest race mare of all time with a win there. She’s already in the running in this fan’s opinion so another Breeders’ Cup win would just be the icing on an already stunning cake.

The Queen Anne Stakes win marks the striking mare’s 9^th lifetime grade or group 1 win. She is undefeated in two starts this year, both against males. In her last start she won her 2010 debut in the Prix d’Ispahan, defeating Byword emphatically. Byword went on to win the Prince of Wales Stakes (Eng-1) the day after her win in the Queen Anne also at Ascot, further flattering the mare’s form.