Reigning Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) queen GOLDIKOVA (Ire) (Anabaa) was upset in
Saturday’s Prix de la Foret (Fr-G1) over about seven furlongs at Longchamp,
winding up third after being outfinished late by Varenar (Rock of Gibraltar
[Ire]). Nevertheless, the outstanding filly is still set to defend her crown in
the $2 million Mile at Oak Tree at Santa Anita on November 7.
The Freddie Head trainee kicked for home in good time but was caught in the
closing stages. Varenar got up by a short head over Sweet Hearth (Touch Gold),
with Goldikova another half-length back.
Bookmakers still rate her an odds-on chance to win the Mile.
“I don’t know what happened,” Head said. “They went a gallop, but that is the
name of the game. She didn’t quicken. Turning into the straight, she did not
pick up and when he (Olivier Peslier) asked her she stayed on at the one pace.
“She might have used herself too much early on, but you couldn’t say for
sure. For the moment she is going to the Breeders’ Cup.”
“She was a little bit flat today,” Peslier said, “but I think she is going to
be OK for the Breeders’ Cup.”
Sunday at Longchamp sees a whole host of top-class racing, headed by the Prix
de l’Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1), in which SEA THE STARS (Cape Cross [Ire]) will bid
to win his sixth Group 1 race in as many months. His connections have mentioned
the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) as a possible next target.
Sunday also features the next European leg of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge,
the Prix de l’Abbaye (Fr-G1), for which the winner earns a place in the
Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.
There are 11 European races in the Breeders’ Cup Challenge, an international
series of 63 races whose winners earn qualifying positions into a corresponding
race at the World Championships, following the payment of applicable entry fees
on October 26.
The final European Breeders’ Cup Challenge race is the Champion S. (Eng-G1)
at Newmarket on October 17, for which the victor is guaranteed a place in the $3
million Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1).