ENGLISH TEXTS
Prix Jean Prat), Galikova( Prix Vermeille), Naaqoos( Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère), Polydream( Prix Maurice de Gheest), Queen’ s Jewel( Prix Saint-Alary), Tamayuz( Prix Jacques Le Marois, Prix Jean Prat), We Are( Prix de l’ Opéra) and With You( Prix Rothschild). While fillies and mares largely shaped Freddy Head’ s career – both as a jockey and as a trainer – it was with a gelding that he closed the chapter of his major successes, namely the aforementioned Call The Wind, winner of the 2018 Prix du Cadran. Likewise, although he mostly trained speed horses, it was with a stayer that he, somewhat fittingly, said goodbye.
BY PAUL CASABIANCA
FREDDY HEAD’ S FIVE STARS
BACK TO ARTICLE
Over the course of his career as both trainer and jockey, Freddy Head has enjoyed numerous top-level triumphs. Without attempting to highlight all his finest victories, here is a focus on the five horses that allowed him to shine on the global racing stage as a trainer for nearly three decades..
Goldikova, an unmatched and unrivalled legend Writing her nine letters brings memories flooding back— along with the emotions. Irresistible, sensational, unforgettable, unique, legendary, historic … there is no
shortage of superlatives to describe her. Goldikova is the story of a( royal) union between Anabaa and Born Gold, a golden broodmare and dam of eight black-type performers. Born on March 15, 2005, the homebred representative of Wertheimer & Frère began building her legend at Chantilly with a win on September 17, 2007, capping her two-year-old season with a double. The year 2008 marked the beginning of her consecration: seven races, three Group 1 victories, including a Rothschild – Moulin de Longchamp – Breeders’ Cup Mile treble. From ParisLongchamp Racecourse to Santa Anita Park via Ascot Racecourse, wherever she went, the Queen of the Mile( and beyond) left an indelible mark. It would take a bible to recount her extraordinary career, highlighted by 14 top-level victories, including a historic treble in the Breeders’ Cup Mile( Gr. 1). On January 5, 2021, the queen, aged 16, passed away. The final word belongs to those who saw her born, grow, and shine:“ Goldikova will remain in our memories as the best mare in the stable … Thank you, champion, and may your name resonate for a very long time,” recalled the Wertheimer family.
Moonlight Cloud, the Queen of Deauville As if by design, Moonlight Cloud broke the legendary Goldikova’ s record in the 2013 Prix Jacques Le Marois( Gr. 1) by 0.11 seconds— a symbolic achievement for a historic benchmark unlikely to fall anytime soon. She was an exceptional mare, a hold-up performer with breathtaking turn of foot and explosive acceleration. Her Prix Maurice de Gheest – Prix Jacques Le Marois double in 2013, achieved just one week apart, earned her the title of Queen of Deauville. A queen beaten only once at Deauville-La Touques Racecourse in six public outings. Unlike Goldikova, her talent and aura did not extend beyond French borders, yet her record speaks for itself: 20 races, 12 victories, including six at Group 1 level.
Marchand d ' Or, forever his first Everyone agrees that a first— whatever it may be— is never forgotten. And Freddy Head would certainly not disagree.“ We are dealing with something exceptional,” he said of the horse who gave him his first Group 1 as a trainer on August 6, 2006, at Deauville. Marchand d’ Or began his career as a two-year-old in claiming races( incredible but true) but quickly climbed the ranks. Gelded in autumn 2005, he lost his maiden status at three, before earning black-type honors at ParisLongchamp Racecourse and becoming a top-class sprinter. Bred and owned by the Giral couple, this son of Marchand de Sable and Fedora— easily recognizable by his striking grey coat— made Deauville his favorite playground, win-
# 18 150