Wednesday 8th July 2009
Etihad Airways Falmouth triumph for Goldikova
Etihad Airways Falmouth triumph for Goldikova
GOLDIKOVA was back to her brilliant best this afternoon as she powered to glory in the Etihad Airways Falmouth Stakes.
The daughter of Anabaa recorded three Group 1 wins last year, culminating with a magnificent victory in the Breeders’ Cup Mile.
Her seasonal reappearance in the Prix D’Ispahan was a disappointment as she struggled on the soft ground. But any doubts about whether she was still a force at the top level were swept away as she raced to a 7/4 triumph under Olivier Peslier.
Spacious lead them along at a modest tempo and Goldikova always had her within striking distance.
The last two furlongs turned into a frantic sprint but Golidkova had the best turn of foot and surged to the front approaching the furlong-pole.
Heaven Sent laid down a mighty challenge in the closing stages but the French raider had kept a little up her sleeve and repelled all-comers for a half-length win - her fourth at Group 1 level.
Her trainer Freddie Head said: “This is lovely. I don’t think there was much pace on early and she has had to do it the hard way. She saw a lot of daylight and I was a bit scared in the last 400 yards but she kept on finding extra.
“She will probably go to Deauville next month and we have two choices the Prix Rothschild (August 2) and the Prix Jacques Le Marois (August 16), which is the main goal.” The Breeders’ Cup will once again feature on her agenda in November.
Heaven Sent ran a big race in second while Spacious was held in third.
The other Group race on the card, the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cherry Hinton Stakes, fell to Misheer.
She beat a classy field with Albany Stakes winner Habaayib, well held in second.
Tony Rushmer
