Goldikova Set for More Group 1 Glory

Freddie Head's remarkable mare Goldikova looks certain to take all the beating this Sunday when she bids to land the Group 1 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville, France, for the second successive year, writes Elliot Slater.

The brilliant five-year-old miler, winner of 10 Group 1 races in her last 12 outings, is likely to start odds-on to add to her successes this term in the Prix D'Isaphan at Longchamp, the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, and the Prix Rothschild at Deauville at the start of this month, where she handed out an effortless three-length drubbing to Music Show, winner of the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket a few weeks earlier.

Likely opposition for Goldikova's return visit to Deauville within the space of a fortnight include high-class Paco Boy, who pushed the daughter of Anabaa all the way at Royal Ascot in June, and in whom in-form trainer Richard Hannon has expressed strong hopes that his colt can once again make a very serious race of it with the darling of the French racing scene.

Racing tips for today also suggest that Sunday's race is also likely to see the presence of Newmarket 2000 Guineas winner Makfi, bitterly disappointing when well beaten on his subsequent outing in the St James's Palace Stakes, but who was later found to have been suffering from a throat infection and is now reportedly back to his best and is also expected to give a very good account of himself.

Goldikova's long range plan remains an attempt at winning a third successive Breeders' Cup Mile at Churchill Downs in early November, a victory that would mark down the 13-time winner as one of the all-time greats at the distance anywhere in the world. Despite the confidence expressed by connections of her opponents for the Prix Jacques le Marois, it's hard to see Goldikova being beaten and I and most irish horse racing tips believe she will put in another stellar performance at Deauville.