Goldikova seeking Foret consolation
The five-year-old was sent off at odds-on following three consecutive Group One triumphs this term, but she ultimately proved no match for 2000 Guineas winner Makfi.
Pierre-Yves Bureau, racing manager to owners the Wertheimer Brothers, admits the testing conditions did not play to Goldikova’s strengths but he is keen to give plenty of credit to the winner.
“She came out of the race perfectly and there is no problem with her at all,” said Bureau.
“We will stay with the original plan which was to go for the Prix de la Foret on Arc day (October 3) and then if everything is going right, go back for the Breeders’ Cup Mile.
“I don’t think she can use her turn of foot and she doesn’t have the same acceleration on that softer ground, but at the same time we were defeated by a very good horse.
“Makfi won the 2000 Guineas, finishing in front of a lot of good horses, so I think for us it was a combination of the ground and that we were beaten by a good horse. He was the best horse on the day.
“The most important thing is that Goldikova has been doing well since and we just hope the ground is not too soft at Longchamp next time.”
Meanwhile connections of Midday are plotting an autumn campaign centred on her defence of the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Churchill Downs in November.
Henry Cecil’s star filly recorded her fourth Group One triumph in the Yorkshire Oaks last week and is reported to have taken those exertions well.
While there has been no decision on whether she will run again in the next couple of months, Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager for the owner Prince Khalid Abdullah, has revealed a return trip to America is her primary aim.
“We’ve decided Midday will head for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, but whether she’ll run again before then has not totally been established,” said Grimthorpe.
“We’ll see how she goes over the next couple of weeks but at this stage, I would think the Prix Vermeille (September 12) would be more likely than the Prix de l’Opera (October 3). There is not a big issue there and the Breeders’ Cup is her main objective.”
