HEAD SALUTES STAR FILLIES

Freddie Head reports his two star half-sisters Goldikova and Galikova to have emerged sound from their exploits at Deauville on Monday.

Galikova is only half the age of her sibling and has a very long way to go before she can match her achievements, but lined herself up for Group One objectives by reversing French Oaks form with Golden Lilac in the Prix Guillaume d'Ornano.

She was subsequently cut in the betting for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Goldikova, already a record-breaking winner of 14 Group and Grade Ones, was not able to stretch her mark to 15 when finishing a length adrift of Immortal Verse in the Prix Jacques le Marois.

"They are both very well, I'm happy with how they have taken their races and they have eaten up," Head reported.

"Galikova ran a great race - beating Andre Fabre's horse Golden Lilac by three lengths was something.

"The Prix Vermeille is absolutely the plan and I think she will stay the distance. The Arc is something else - let's go for the Vermeille and see what happens."

Head is mulling over options for Goldikova before the Breeders' Cup and was pragmatic about her defeat, where she came from quite a long way back but could not withstand Immortal Verse's challenge.

He reflected: "You are always disappointed when you are beaten. She ran a great race. We were trying to ride her slightly differently and with a bit of luck she might have won it.

"But she was beaten by a very good filly and there's not much you can say. She's six now, and maybe she has lost a bit of freshness.

"If everything goes well, she could go for the Prix du Moulin and then we'll see. There is also the Prix de la Foret - I don't know yet what to do."

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