Goldikova (IRE)
March 15, 2005 – January 5, 2021
Anabaa (USA) x Born Gold (USA), by Blushing Groom (FR)
Family 22-d
March 15, 2005 – January 5, 2021
Anabaa (USA) x Born Gold (USA), by Blushing Groom (FR)
Family 22-d
One of the most brilliant milers in European racing history, Goldikova successfully transferred her form across the Atlantic and became the only horse ever to win the same Breeders' Cup race three times. A bid for a fourth title in the Breeders' Cup Mile (USA-G1) fell short but did nothing to diminish her reputation.
Race record
27 starts, 17 wins, 6 seconds, 3 thirds, US$7,175,384 (including converted earnings from England and France).
2008:
2009:
2010:
2011:
Honors
Assessments
Rated at 125 pounds on the 2008 World Thoroughbred Rankings, tied for sixth overall and second among dillies and mares.
Highweighted 3-year-old female in France, 7 to 9.5 furlongs (2008).
Rated at 130 pounds on the 2009 World Thoroughbred Rankings, second only to European Horse of the Year Sea the Stars.
Rated at 125 pounds on the 2010 World Thoroughbred Rankings, tied for 11th overall but first among fillies and mares.
Rated at 124 pounds on the 2011 World Thoroughbred Rankings, tied for 14th overall and third among fillies and mares.
Highweighted older female in England, 7 to 9.5 furlongs (2009, 2010, 2011)
Highweighted older female in France, 7 to 9.5 furlongs (2009, 2010, 2011).
As an individual
A plain bay mare, Goldikova was beautifully balanced with an excellent shoulder and a strong, sloping pelvis. She had an explosive turn of foot and was at her best on firm going. She was strong-willed and not always an easy customer to deal (as trainer Freddy Head put it, "She had quite a special character and you couldn't go near her in her box") with but was all business on the race course. Her constitution was excellent and she shipped well.
As a producer
Goldikova produced six named foals of racing age; all six have started and three have won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Goldikova was bred and owned by Wertheimer et Frère. She was trained by Freddy Head and was ridden by Olivier Peslier throughout her racing career.
Pedigree notes
Goldikova is inbred 3x4 to Northern Dancer, 4x4 to Riverman and 5x5 to Nearco. She is a full sister to Grade/Group 1-placed Group 3 winner Anodin. She is also a half sister to 2011 Prix Vermeille (FR-G1) winner Galikova (by Galileo) and to 2000 Prix Cleopatre (FR-G3) winner Gold Round (by Caerleon), dam of Group 3 winners Goldwaki and Golden Valentine (both by Dalakhani) and French listed winner Spectaculaire (by Spectrum). Goldikova is also a half sister to 2005 Prix de Guiche (FR-G3) winner Gold Sound (by Green Tune) and 2017 Prix Vanteaux (FR-G3) winner Gold Luck (by Redoute's Choice).
Born Gold, the dam of Goldikova and her siblings, is a full sister to multiple Group 1 winner Gold Splash, dam of French listed winner Royal God (by Royal Academy). She is also a half sister to Gold Bust (by Nashwan), second dam of English Group 2 winner Turret Rocks and Australian Group 3 winner Beyond Thankful.
Born Gold was produced from 1988 Prix Saint-Alary (FR-G1) winner Riviere d'Or (by Lyphard), a half sister to French Group 3 winner Chercheur d'Or (by Northern Dancer), to Group 1-placed French listed winner Goldneyev (by Nureyev) and to Riviere d'Argent (by Nijinsky II), dam of French Group 2 winner Silver Fun (by Saumarez) and French listed stakes winners Little Wassl (by Wassl) and Silver Rain (by Rainbow Quest; dam of Group 3-placed French listed winner Baahama, by Anabaa). Riviere d'Or and her siblings, in turn, were produced from 1981 French champion older female Gold River (by Riverman), whose victories included the 1980 Prix Royal Oak (French St. Leger, FR-G1) and 1981 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (FR-G1).
Books and media
Footage of Goldikova’s victory in the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Mile (USA-G1) can be accessed at the Breeders’ Cup Hall of Champions (https://www.breederscup.com/history-tradition/hall-champions/goldikova-ire).
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photo taken by Tim Stephansen during the 2010 Qatar Prix de la Forêt (FR-G1). Used by permission.
Last updated: July 5, 2023
Race record
27 starts, 17 wins, 6 seconds, 3 thirds, US$7,175,384 (including converted earnings from England and France).
2008:
- Won Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (FR-G1, 1600mT, Longchamp)
- Won Prix Rothschild (FR-G1, 1600mT, Deauville)
- Won Breeders' Cup Mile (USA-G1, 8FT, Santa Anita)
- Won Prix Chloé (FR-G3, 1600mT, Maisons-Laffitte)
- 2nd Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French One Thousand Guineas) (FR-G1, 1600mT, Longchamp)
- 3rd Prix de Diane (French Oaks) (FR-G1, 2100mT, Chantilly)
2009:
- Won Etihad Airways Falmouth Stakes (ENG-G1, 8FT, Newmarket)
- Won Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques le Marois (FR-G1, 1600mT, Deauville)
- Won Prix Rothschild (FR-G1, 1600mT, Deauville)
- Won TVG Breeders' Cup Mile (USA-G1, 8FT, Santa Anita)
- 3rd Total Prix de la Forêt (FR-G1, 1400mT, Longchamp)
2010:
- Won Queen Anne Stakes (ENG-G1, 8FT, Ascot)
- Won Prix d'Ispahan (FR-G1, 1850mT, Longchamp)
- Won Qatar Prix de la Forêt (FR-G1, 1400mT, Longchamp)
- Won Prix Rothschild (FR-G1, 1600mT, Deauville)
- Won TVG Breeders' Cup Mile (USA-G1, 8FT, Churchill Downs)
- 2nd Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques le Marois (FR-G1, 1600mT, Deauville)
2011:
- Won Prix Rothschild (FR-G1, 1600mT, Deauville)
- Won Prix d'Ispahan (FR-G1, 1850mT, Longchamp)
- 2nd Qatar Prix de la Forêt (FR-G1, 1400mT. Longchamp)
- 2nd Queen Anne S. (ENG-G1, 8FT, Ascot)
- 2nd Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques le Marois (FR-G1, 1600mT, Deauville)
- 3rd TVG Breeders' Cup Mile (USA-G1, 8FT, Churchill Downs)
Honors
- National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 2017)
- Cartier Award, European Horse of the Year (2010)
- Cartier Award, European champion older horse (2009, 2010)
- Eclipse Award, American champion turf female (2009, 2010)
- Eclipse Award finalist, American champion turf female (2008)
- Eclipse Award finalist, American Horse of the Year (2010)
- Eclipse Award finalist, American champion older female (2010)
Assessments
Rated at 125 pounds on the 2008 World Thoroughbred Rankings, tied for sixth overall and second among dillies and mares.
Highweighted 3-year-old female in France, 7 to 9.5 furlongs (2008).
Rated at 130 pounds on the 2009 World Thoroughbred Rankings, second only to European Horse of the Year Sea the Stars.
Rated at 125 pounds on the 2010 World Thoroughbred Rankings, tied for 11th overall but first among fillies and mares.
Rated at 124 pounds on the 2011 World Thoroughbred Rankings, tied for 14th overall and third among fillies and mares.
Highweighted older female in England, 7 to 9.5 furlongs (2009, 2010, 2011)
Highweighted older female in France, 7 to 9.5 furlongs (2009, 2010, 2011).
As an individual
A plain bay mare, Goldikova was beautifully balanced with an excellent shoulder and a strong, sloping pelvis. She had an explosive turn of foot and was at her best on firm going. She was strong-willed and not always an easy customer to deal (as trainer Freddy Head put it, "She had quite a special character and you couldn't go near her in her box") with but was all business on the race course. Her constitution was excellent and she shipped well.
As a producer
Goldikova produced six named foals of racing age; all six have started and three have won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Terrakova (2014, by Galileo) won the 2017 Prix de Pomone (FR-G3) and finished third in that year’s Prix de Diane (French Oaks, FR-G1).
- Goldistyle (2018, by Dubawi) won the 2022 Prix Maurice Zilber (FR-L) and ran third in that year’s Prix Rothschild (FR-G1).
Connections
Goldikova was bred and owned by Wertheimer et Frère. She was trained by Freddy Head and was ridden by Olivier Peslier throughout her racing career.
Pedigree notes
Goldikova is inbred 3x4 to Northern Dancer, 4x4 to Riverman and 5x5 to Nearco. She is a full sister to Grade/Group 1-placed Group 3 winner Anodin. She is also a half sister to 2011 Prix Vermeille (FR-G1) winner Galikova (by Galileo) and to 2000 Prix Cleopatre (FR-G3) winner Gold Round (by Caerleon), dam of Group 3 winners Goldwaki and Golden Valentine (both by Dalakhani) and French listed winner Spectaculaire (by Spectrum). Goldikova is also a half sister to 2005 Prix de Guiche (FR-G3) winner Gold Sound (by Green Tune) and 2017 Prix Vanteaux (FR-G3) winner Gold Luck (by Redoute's Choice).
Born Gold, the dam of Goldikova and her siblings, is a full sister to multiple Group 1 winner Gold Splash, dam of French listed winner Royal God (by Royal Academy). She is also a half sister to Gold Bust (by Nashwan), second dam of English Group 2 winner Turret Rocks and Australian Group 3 winner Beyond Thankful.
Born Gold was produced from 1988 Prix Saint-Alary (FR-G1) winner Riviere d'Or (by Lyphard), a half sister to French Group 3 winner Chercheur d'Or (by Northern Dancer), to Group 1-placed French listed winner Goldneyev (by Nureyev) and to Riviere d'Argent (by Nijinsky II), dam of French Group 2 winner Silver Fun (by Saumarez) and French listed stakes winners Little Wassl (by Wassl) and Silver Rain (by Rainbow Quest; dam of Group 3-placed French listed winner Baahama, by Anabaa). Riviere d'Or and her siblings, in turn, were produced from 1981 French champion older female Gold River (by Riverman), whose victories included the 1980 Prix Royal Oak (French St. Leger, FR-G1) and 1981 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (FR-G1).
Books and media
Footage of Goldikova’s victory in the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Mile (USA-G1) can be accessed at the Breeders’ Cup Hall of Champions (https://www.breederscup.com/history-tradition/hall-champions/goldikova-ire).
Fun facts
- Goldikova was the first horse to win three Breeders' Cup races, triumphing in the Mile in 2008-2010.
- In winning the 2011 Prix Rothschild, Goldikova set a new record of 14 Grade or Group 1 wins for a European-based runner.
- The Goldikova StakeRainbow Quests is a Grade 2 event for fillies and mares aged 4 and up. It is contested at a mile on the turf at Santa Anita.
Photo credit
Photo taken by Tim Stephansen during the 2010 Qatar Prix de la Forêt (FR-G1). Used by permission.
Last updated: July 5, 2023