The backstretch at Churchill will be like a ghost town tomorrow, but her presence alone has filled it this week. She strode out for her public, which on Friday included the actress Bo Derek, for the last time at exercise and even her trainer, the personable John Shirreffs, had his camera with him.
So what stands in the way of her quest for perfection? Two horses are being put up, America’s best three-year-old Lookin At Lucky and course specialist Blame.
However, first crack at a record – no horse has ever won three Breeders’ Cups – goes to Goldikova, who is in great condition for the defence of her Mile title in what is looks the toughest of her three American adventures.
“She needs a good run and some luck,” conceded trainer Freddie Head, after supervising the 11-time Group One winner on the track from the back of a pony. “It’s a tricky track with short turns, but I am very happy with her.”
Her principal handicap with such a short run to the first turn is her wide draw. She overcame an equally bad stall at Santa Anita last year and it is hugely in her favour that she is so flexible tactically.
Paco Boy looks well for his last run and entering the spirit of the occasion his owners had T-shirts printed with ‘Get Goldi’ on the front and ‘Paco is the boy’ on the back. He has a plum draw. “He’s only been beaten small amounts by ‘Goldilocks’,” said Richard Hannon jnr. “I don’t like making excuses, but once it was the going, once it was the draw and once he was too far out of his ground. Maybe the luck will be with us.”
Nobody knows whether or not Workforce runs in the Turf as the fast ground continues to concern connections. Threatening clouds have been full only of empty promises, but officials have been unable to water because of the 40 per cent chance of rain. Sir Michael Stoute conceded that he was playing for time now.
If it is not one of the most important decisions of his career, it certainly has a huge bearing on Workforce’s future and he could even wait for Ryan Moore’s opinion after his ride on Paco Boy before deciding. Should he run it is hard to oppose him. If he is scratched, John Gosden’s Debussy and Brian Meehan’s Dangerous Midge look lively outsiders.
