Thaindian News

By Meena Kar
Nov 7, (THAINDIAN NEWS) Spectators at the Churchill Downs were in for a real treat on Saturday’s Breeder’s Cup 2010 proceedings. Goldikova, the mare raised in Ireland, turned out to be the absolute show stealer in the Breeders’ Cup Mile, as she recovered from the 6th position to win the race for the third time straight in her career. The dramatic finish left her French trainer along with the crowd completely speechless.

With quarter of a mile left to go, not many could have imagined that the final gear of Goldikova would be enough to overtake Gio Ponti, who so far looked like the favorite. As the mare walked towards the winner’s circle, Jockey Olivier Peslier threw flowers at the audience in honor of the Irish beauty who might have been running her last race for the Breeders’ Cup. Winning three Breeders’ Cup Miles so far, the mare has been almost as hyped as Zenyatta before the race.

Olivier Peslier and Freddy Head were all praises for the Irish mare. Freddy Head was almost emotional after the win and said that it felt like a soap opera. Olivier Peslier said that in the last turn he felt she was flying. He also said that words were not enough to describe how it felt to ride a champion like Goldikova.

During the race Goldikova started from the 10th post and gradually settled into the race when 3/4th of it was over. 6th at that point, Goldikova picked up her speed like a true champion and had a rather comfortable finish over Gio Ponti by 1 and 3/4.