Goldikova (first left) sweeps round the bend at Santa Anita on her way to a second successive victory in the Breeders' Cup Mile this month

  PICTURE: Edward Whitaker  

Third Breeders' Cup the target for Goldikova

France: Goldikova will stay in training as a five-year-old in 2010, when a historic third victory at the Breeders' Cup will be the ultimate target for the brilliant Freddie Head-trained filly.

Goldikova, who completed back-to-back successes in the Breeders' Cup Mile at Santa Anita this month, will aim to become the first horse to win more than two Breeders' Cup races next year, when the American championship will be held at Churchill Downs.

William Hill immediately made the filly, who will be retired to the paddocks at the end of next year, a 3-1 chance to complete an unprecedented Breeders' Cup hat-trick.

Delighted trainer Freddie Head

  PICTURE: Edward Whitaker  

"That is not very generous," laughed Head, delighted with the news.

"I am very, very happy that she stays in training next year," he added.

Goldikova has reportedly recovered well from her US exertions and will spend a period at her owners' stud before returning to training for next year's campaign.

"She has come back from the States in great form and appears to be very well," added Head. "She has now gone down to the Wertheimers' Haras de Saint-Leonard in Normandy for a holiday."

With seven Group or Grade 1 victories already to her name, the daughter of Anabaa could also challenge the great Miesque's European record for top-level victories since the Pattern was introduced in 1971.

Miesque, usually ridden by Head, won ten Group or Grade 1s in her glittering career, including her own Breeders' Cup Mile double.

After coming off worst in the French Classics against the great Zarkava, Goldlikova went from strength to strength with a Group/Grade 1 hat-trick as a three-year-old. She scored four more times at the top level this season.

Looking to next year's programme, he said: "It is all geared to another Breeders' Cup Mile as that race is the Wertheimer brothers' baby and that is all they want.

"The rest of her programme is not set in stone for the moment but she may well reappear in the QueenAnne Stakes at Royal Ascot. There is also the option of the Prix d'Ispahan and then we have a similar choice with races like the Falmouth and the Rothschild and Jacques Le Marois at Deauville."

Head is also not averse to using the Foret again as a trial for the Breeders' Cup Mile, saying: "Why not the Foret again? It proved a very good prep for her before Santa Anita this season!"

Olivier Peslier, who has ridden Goldikova in every one of her 15 races, was also pleased with the decision to keep her in training.

Speaking as he touched down at Charles de Gaulle airport last night having ridden Sahpresa into third place in the Group 1 in the Mile Championship at Kyoto, he said: "That is a super decision by  the Wertheimer brothers! It was also a very sporting one. I hope she stays in such good form as she had this year."

>> Goldikova's half-brother Ocean Seven couldn't have impressed more when making a five-length winning debut at Fontainebleau last Monday. "I like him a lot," said Head.

 "He couldn't have done it better and will still improve. I can't say whether he will turn into a champion but definitely a Group horse and hopefully a Group 1 winner."