Goldikova: Lost a step or as good as ever?

[PatCummings]

Originally Posted by Merlinsky

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-raci...tter-than-ever

Okay, so this is the first I'm hearing that she's as good as she was for previous attempts. Freddy Head is saying bah humbug to anybody who thinks otherwise. The DRF rundown of the pre-entries mentioned that she'd lost a step as have guests on ATR. Is Freddy being sentimental, or is there reason to think he's right?

You'd be a fool if you don't use her in multi-race plays, she'll be a "B" for me in those...but it's hard to ignore that her best peformances have ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY been in the past. You have to ask yourself if you think she re-finds that form in this race, against some European competition that has pointed to this race a long way out (Strong Suit), and one who found his best form last time and had that win franked substantially (Byword). With an in-form Courageous Cat and the late kick Gio Ponti showed last time...I think you could argue this is definitely the best field she's faced in the last four runnings, all at a time when she seems to have regressed just slightly.

I say...tip your hat if she wins, bet with 1.5 fists against, hedge slightly in multi-race plays, using her defensively.