Ponti team gunning for another crack at Goldikova
Gio Ponti, who twice this season has vainly chased the shadow of the Aidan O’Brien-trained Cape Blanco over ten furlongs, has been confirmed an intended starter in the Breeders’ Cup Mile with connections hoping he can reverse placings with the great French mare Goldikova who beat him into second place in the race 12 months ago, writes Elliot Slater.
Although a very talented mile-and-a-quarter horse as he showed in finishing second to Cape Blanco this summer in both the Man O’War Stakes and the Arlington Million, trainer Christophe Clement feels that his most recent outing when landing the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes at Keeneland, proved that the shorter trip shows the son of Tale of the Cat to best advantage. Even people looking for Cheltenham betting tips will be keeping an eye on this race.
The six-year-old was never far from the pace at Keeneland before being sent into the lead in the final half-furlong to justify favouritism and beat Get Stormy by half-a-length. In last year’s Breeders’ Cup Mile Gio Ponti was arguably given a bit too much to do having been held up at the rear of the field for much of the contest before coming with a good effort down the straight, although without ever having a hope of reeling in Goldikova who completed a sensational hattrick of successes in the illustrious contest. Those concentrating on the date of Cheltenham Gold Cup 2012 will also be interested in the race.
With doubts surfacing this term as to whether Freddie Head’s great mare is quite as good as she was, a more positive ride could well see Gio Ponti getting very much closer to the 14-time Grade 1 winner and bookmakers may be a little too generous in offering odds of as big as 10/1 about this proven Breeders’ Cup performer springing a surprise. It shouldn’t be forgotten that Gio Ponti ran a fabulous second to the outstanding Zenyatta in the Breeders’ Cup Classic of 2009, highlighting his liking for this fixture.
