Goldikova Headines Queen Elizabeth II Stakes

by Patricia Woo | Sep 21 2009

European horses set to invade Santa Anita Park for the Breeders' Cup in November will continue their preparations in the 1-mile Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot Racecourse on Saturday, Sept. 26. A full lineup is expected to contest the Group 1 flat horse race for 3-year-olds and up, including last year's Breeders' Cup Mile champion Goldikova. And with an automatic berth to this year's Breeders' Cup Mile on the line, the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes is one of the most important races of the season.

While the notion of female horses taking on males is more the exception than the rule in North America (think of the sensation that was caused when Rachel Alexandra took on male horses – and won – in the Preakness Stakes, the Haskell Invitational and the Woodward Stakes this year) it is much more common in Europe. Last year's Breeders' Cup Mile champion Goldikova has been taking on males – and winning –for much of her storied career, and this Saturday's Queen Elizabeth II Stakes is no exception. The 4-year-old filly, trained by Freddie Head, has won three straight group 1 races in 2009 for owners and breeders Alain and Gerard Wertheimer: the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket on July 8, the Prix Rothschild at Deauville in Aug. 2 and the Prix Jacques Le Marois, also at Deauville, just two weeks later. The only blemish on her 2009 campaign so far was in her debut, a seventh-place finish in the Prix d'Ispahan in May at Longchamp Head attributes to poor track conditions. With her supreme track record, Goldikova should be one of the frontrunners in Saturday's race.

Fresh off his first career Group 1 win in the Prix du Moulin at Longchamp on Sept. 6 is Aqlaam, a 4-year-old son of Oasis Dream who has been improving all year. Second by 6 lengths behind Goldikova in his previous Group 1 effort in the Prix Jacques le Marois, Aqlaam will get another crack at the top-rated filly on Saturday. Trainer William Haggas has been pleased with his charge's progress: “…He's just getting better and better with each run… we'll aim for the QEII and take it from there.”

Highly touted but injury-maligned Rip Van Winkle is on Saturday's race card but still doubtful, according to trainer Aiden O'Brien. Despite a breakthrough performance on July 29 where he won his first Group 1, the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood, Rip Van Winkle has been plagued all season by foot problems. O'Brien has high praise for his charge, saying: “It's all class with this horse, and all cruise and speed. We've never had a horse with that much class,” – but whether this injury-prone 3-year-old will make it to the gate on Saturday remains to be seen.

Others possible for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes include Delegator, who has been newly acquired by Godolphin Stable; Ghanaati, a Giant's Causeway filly who is a recent Group 1 winner; last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner Donativum; and Mastercraftsman, another talented Aiden O'Brien trainee.

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