By Tom Frary
Earning TDN Rising Star status with a convincing 3 1/2-length winning debut over nine furlongs on Chantilly's Polytrack in November, Terrakova returned to justify that tag and hint at the bigger things that could come naturally as a daughter of the famed Goldikova. Settled in a stalking third early by Maxime Guyon as Treve's sister Terre (Fr) (Motivator {GB}) took up the mantle of pace-setting duties, the bay was delivered between that tiring rival and Penny Lane to lead passing the furlong pole before asserting for a straightforward and comfortable verdict over Panthelia.
Terrakova has a weight of responsibility on her shoulders as the second foal out of the world-renowned Goldikova, but she is already not far off the equivalent level of her dam who by this point in her career had finished second in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches. The Wertheimers's ground-breaking mare was third in the G1 Prix de Diane on her next start and that is where her daughter heads now according to Freddy Head, who also finished second in that Classic in 2011 with Goldikova's half-sister by Galileo, Galikova (Fr), who won this race en route. “The winter has been long and cold and it took a long time for her to come around,” he explained. “At one stage, I thought she might come back earlier for a mile race but at that stage she had not yet reached her best condition so I decided to wait for this race. Being by Galileo, I thought she would stay and she stayed very well today. She got bumped early in the race and Maxime had to rush her a little to get a position. Sometimes those incidents cause them to race a little bit too keenly, but she relaxed perfectly well. When he asked her for an effort in the straight, she produced a nice turn of foot and ran on nicely to the line. I feel there is more improvement to come and of course she will now go for the Prix de Diane [at Chantilly June 18].”
Goldikova's considerable achievements are staggering, with three renewals of the GI Breeders' Cup Mile her particular masterpiece in an enviable body of work over four seasons racing at the highest level. As mentioned, her half-sister Galikova went on to capture a race of that status in the G1 Prix Vermeille six years ago, while Goldikova's full-brother Anodin (Ire) took the G3 Prix Paul de Moussac and was placed on five occasions at the top including when a length second to his compatriot Karakontie (Jpn) (Bernstein) in the 2014 edition of the Breeders' Cup Mile. He now stands at Haras du Quesnay. Along with Galikova, the second dam Born Gold also provided a Prix Cleopatre winner in 2000 via the Criquette Head-trained Gold Round (Ire) (Caerleon). Her 3-year-old in this stable, Gold Luck (Fr) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}), won the G3 Prix Vanteaux last month while another of her half-siblings Born Something (Ire) (Caerleon) is the dam of the exciting Jessie Harrington-trained 3-year-old colt Red Label (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Goldikova's 2015 foal by Galileo unfortunately died, but she has been followed by a yearling filly by Intello (Ger) named Goldika (Ire) and a filly foal who is a full-sister to this winner.
Tuesday, Saint-Cloud, France
PRIX CLEOPATRE-G3, €80,000, SCD, 5-23, 3yo, f, 10 1/2fT, 2:16.32, gd.
1–#@TERRAKOVA (IRE), 123, f, 3, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Goldikova (Ire) (Ch. Older Horse-Eur, Ch. Older Mare-Eur, 2x Ch. Grass Mare-US, MG1SW-Eng & Fr, MGISW-US, $7,176,551), by Anabaa
2nd Dam: Born Gold, by Blushing Groom (Fr)
3rd Dam: Riviere d'Or, by Lyphard
O/B-Wertheimer & Frere (IRE); T-Freddy Head; J-Maxime Guyon. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, €53,500. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Panthelia (Fr), 123, f, 3, Gentlewave (Ire)–Panthesilea (Fr), by Kendor (Fr). O-Guy Pariente; B-Guy Pariente Holding (FR); T-Philippe Sogorb. €16,000.
3–Penny Lane (Ger), 123, f, 3, Lord of England (Ger)–Peace Time (Ger), by Surumu (Ger). (€40,000 Ylg '15 BBAGS). O-Ecurie de Montlahuc; B-Gestut Etzean (GER); T-Francis-Henri Graffard. €12,000.
Margins: 3/4, 1, HF. Odds: 1.70, 23.00, 7.20.
Also Ran: Rythmique (Ire), Mademoiselle Marie (Fr), Pink Paint (Fr), Terre (Fr), Limited Edition (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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