25 Facts About Goldikova

Goldikova was an Irish-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse who was the 2010 European Horse of the Year.

Goldikova is the only European-trained horse to have won more than ten Group One races.

Goldikova was ridden by Olivier Peslier in all of her races.

Goldikova's dam, Born Gold, is the dam of Prix Vermeille winner Galikova, who was sired by champion sire Galileo.

Goldikova was put into training with Freddy Head, former six-times Champion Jockey in France.

Goldikova won both of her starts at age two, capturing the Prix de Toutevoie and the Prix de la Lorie at Chantilly Racecourse.

At age three, Goldikova began the 2008 season in April, running monthly thereafter.

Goldikova started with two seconds and a third and loss to Zarkava, then had three consecutive wins.

Goldikova again defeated the males in winning the 2008 Breeders' Cup Mile at Santa Anita Park in California and was a finalist for the Eclipse Award's American Champion Female Turf Horse for 2008.

Goldikova then returned to Santa Anita Park to win her second Breeders' Cup Mile, with a different racing style.

Goldikova was second last for much of the race and at the top of the stretch went five horses wide.

Goldikova's connections believed that it was largely because of the very soft ground, which she has shown her extreme dislike for in the past.

Goldikova became the only horse to win the Champion Older Horse award twice.

Goldikova won her 14th Group One, a European record, when winning her fourth consecutive Prix Rothschild at Deauville.

Goldikova did not take to the soft ground, which was the case for this year's Prix Jacques Le Marois.

Goldikova ran second, beaten a length, to Group One winner Immortal Verse.

Goldikova prepped for the Breeders' Cup Mile in the Group One Prix de la Foret on the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe undercard at Longchamp.

Goldikova was beaten a head by five time Group One winner Dream Ahead.

On 4 November 2011, Goldikova finished third in the Breeders' Cup Mile, one length behind longshot Court Vision, who edged out Turallure by a nose.

Goldikova was attempting to win an unprecedented fourth straight Breeders' Cup Mile.

Goldikova was officially rated the joint 6th best horse in the world in 2008 on a rating of 125.

Goldikova achieved a rating of 125 in 2010, the joint 11th best in the world and the top rated mare.

In 2017, Goldikova was inducted into the American Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.

Goldikova was retired from racing immediately after her third-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Mile.

On Sunday 3 February 2013, Goldikova gave birth to her first foal, a colt.