Galikova

There is probably a lot more to come from Galikova. She only finished fifth of eight in the Group 1 Criterium Des Pouliches at Longchamp on Arc day, but she looked to have been given a considerate ride from her jockey, Olivier Peslier. She raced in the rear of the field for most of the way, running a bit freely and with her head in the air at times. She was still last as they turned onto the straight, and it was clear from here that Peslier was never going to get serious with her, she stayed on well though under hands and heels and she probably would have finished third behind Misty For Me and Helleborine in another 100 yards.

This was a highly promising run from Galikova in the circumstances. Apparently her trainer Freddie Head hadn’t planned on running her here, he apparently thought that she was too immature, and he only ran her because of the owner’s insistence. It may be the case that Olivier Peslier was easy on her because of this. A daughter of Galileo, she is a half-sister to Goldikova, and she won nicely on her racecourse debut, in mid-September, late enough in the year, coincidentally winning the same maiden that superfilly Zarkava won on her racecourse debut. She should be a really exciting prospect for next season.

3rd October 2010