The death last week of the great mare Goldikova was sad news for racefans on both sides of the Atlantic. The Wertheimer brothers’ homebred had an unprecedented career record, winning a European record 14 G1s between 2008 and 2011, including four consecutive Prix Rothschild, three consecutive Breeders’ Cup Miles (the only horse to win the same race three times at the great meeting), as well as a career-defining win in the Prix Jacques Le Marois and a victory in the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot. It’s no surprise the mare entered the American Hall of Fame in 2017.
Here Chantilly photo-journalist John Gilmore, who reported and photographed her throughout her career, pays tribute to a remarkable horse who was just as popular in the U.S. as she was in her home country of France.
I first noticed Goldikova not through her own exploits but as a bit player in the story of another filly, the great Zarkava.
Twice Goldikova finished placed behind the Aga Khan’s champion in French Classics in 2008.
In the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches over a mile at Longchamp in May that year, she was second, beaten two lengths, and, over 2½ furlongs further in the Prix de Diane at Chantilly the following month, she was third, 4½ lengths adrift of Zarkava.
But it was back at a mile that her true quality developed. She rattled off four victories before the year was out, three of them G1s (the Prix Rothschild and the Prix du Moulin in France, and the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita). The win in California made Freddy Head the first person to win the Breeders’ Cup Mile as both a jockey (Miesque in 1987 and 1988) and a trainer.
Goldikova landed another four G1s in 2009 - the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket and a second Prix Rothschild at Deauville preceding a devastating victory in the Prix Jacques le Marois, also at Deauville, and later a second BC Mile, again at Santa Anita.
But the crème de la crème was the Jacques le Marois. The daughter of Anabaa produced an extraordinary performance. I am so fortunate to have witnessed it.
Olivier Peslier and the then 4-year-old simply slaughtered a top-class field, coming on the bridle in the last two furlongs to make it a procession, earning her a mark of 130, which made her the second highest-rated horse in the world that year (behind Sea The Stars). Indeed her rating was 2lbs higher than the best achieved by Zarkava (her 2008 Arc victory).
“It was an incredible performance, like a dream, sprinting away from the field to an easy six-length victory and one I can never forget,” Peslier said. “As we made our way back to the winner’s enclosure, it was the first time I had ever seen the crowd at a French track give a horse such a standing ovation, sensing they had seen something special - just like they do in England at big meetings.”
He added, “I rode Goldikova in all her 27 races and had the same sort of relationship and feeling with her as Frankie had when riding Enable.
“It was a big shock when I first heard the news Goldikova had died. Emotionally it felt as if my heart stopped for a moment. She was really too young to die at 16.”
At under 16 hands and around 480kg, Goldikova was not a big horse, but she was as tough as they come. Her great asset was her will to win and consistency at the highest level. She was out of the frame only once in 27 races. She won 17 times, 14 of them G1s .
Head pointed out one significant reason for this. “She never suffered any injuries or needed to see the vet, despite always working with great enthusiasm on the gallops and on the track throughout her racing career,” he said.
She had a marvellous ability to retain her form at top level throughout the year in Europe yet still produce a top-class, fresh performance across the Atlantic with all the travelling involved to win the BC Mile in November three years running.
Watch Goldikova win her third straight Breeders’ Cup Mile
By doing so, her sporting owner-breeders, the Wertheimer brothers, showed they were not afraid to take on the best overseas to prove they had a real champion, not just racing against home-based horses, which her numerous fans across the globe greatly appreciated. In any other sport, international competition is vital to prove you are the best, but it is not always considered necessary in the racehorse breeding industry, where runners are frequently packed off to stud at the end of their 3-year-old careers, as was the case with the unbeaten Zarkava (seven races, seven wins).
Goldikova was known as something of a character - she would attempt to bite people entering her box. Head’s son Christopher, who was assistant to his father at the time, once told me that only Goldikova’s work rider and groom Thierry Blaise, farrier Nicolas Ricaud and head groom Bruno Huet were allowed into her box without any problem - but not his father.
“Goldikova was very special and would try to bite me or kick out in her box when I approached,” said Freddy Head. “This wasn't the case at the races for Peslier when he mounted her.”
“She always appeared calm and at ease,” said Peslier, “but not so at the start. She was not easy for stall entry at the beginning, but the stable worked on her and things got better with age.”
I remember vividly Goldikova’s penultimate appearance in Europe - as a 6-year-old at Deauville for the Prix Jacques Le Marois in 2011. The crowd was full of anticipation, swollen by the Goldikova fan club, and even the racecourse joined in by giving out ‘Allez Goldikova’ posters. Alas, it was not to be and the 3-year-old youngster Immortal Verse spoilt the script. As usual, Goldikova gave her all, but it wasn’t enough this time.
The result made little difference to the spectators as Goldikova and Peslier still received a rapturous reception, the crowd realising it would probably be Goldikova’s farewell appearance at a track where she had won five G1s, including the Prix Rothschild four times.
She was to run once more in France, in the 7-furlong Prix de la Foret at the Arc meeting in October. She was beaten a head by Dream Ahead.
The following month, she attempted to win a fourth Breeders’ Cup Mile, but it was not to be. She was a gallant third to Court Vision, losing nothing in defeat.
The great mare then took up stud duties at the Wertheimers’ Haras de Saint Leonard in Normandy.
Trainer Head (right) considered it difficult to compare Goldikova with Miesque. “Both were great fillies. Miesque was more difficult to ride, being more brutal, having to be held up for an explosive finish. They had a totally different style of racing. Miesque could never win races from the front whereas Goldikova had a far more relaxed style of racing and could win from the front or come with a late run.
“I count myself lucky to have had the opportunity to train a crack filly like Goldikova and also two other top-class horses around 1,600 metres in Solow and Moonlight Cloud.”
Goldikova wasn’t in foal when she died and produced seven foals during her time at stud, with two winners from four starters. The best has been Terrakova (by Galileo) also trained by Head, who won the G3 Prix Cleopatre in 2017 and followed up with a third to Senga in the Prix de Diane.
But that’s not the end of it. Goldikova’s memory on the track lives on, through a 3-year-old as yet unraced Dubawi filly, Goldistyle, and a 2-year-old Galileo colt, Lehman, both in training with Carlos Laffon Parias. All her fans will be hoping for something special from either.
International recognition
- 2009 and 2010: Eclipse Award for Outstanding Female Turf Horse and Cartier Award for Champion Older European Horse
- 2010: Cartier European Horse of the Year
- 2017: Entered American Hall of Fame
- Lifetime earnings: €4,837,120
She was chosen as one of the ten outstanding Eclipse Award winners of each of the last two decades in a poll of media and racing industry people, earning a particular tribute from TRC’s Charles Hayward.