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The European horses have arrived at Churchill Downs for Friday and Saturday’s exciting Breeders Cup races. This little video shows you the convoy of horse vans bringing them to the track, and the grand dame herself, France’s Goldikova, stepping lightly onto the ramp and being settled in her stall.

Is There Such a Thing as a Four-Peat?

Goldikova wasted no time after she was released from quarantine. Her trainer, Freddie Head, had her out on the track today for a jog.

The post position draw puts Goldikova in the number-one inside stall in the starting gate for Saturday’s Breeders Cup Mile, which she will attempt to win for a record fourth consecutive time.

If you need a reason to park yourself in front of a television Saturday afternoon, she’d be a great one. Watch this montage of her three historic wins:

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Just for fun, watch this little video of Goldikova’s groom cheering her on and doing his happy dance when she won. I think this is one of the greatest little film clips from all horse sports of recent years.

What was he so happy about? It may have been more than the jockey or the whip that helped the mare accelerate at the end of the race when all thought she had lost it:

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What a wonderful expression of joy. Do you think she heard him shouting “Allez! Allez!”

I think Goldikova has always been a bit in the shade of Zenyatta in recent years, and the fact that she’s from abroad means that people don’t know that much about her. But just watch the way she flattens herself out and runs to that finish line in each of those three races. The Mile is a difficult race and the speed, even on grass, can be crippling. But the winningest horse in Breeders Cup history has always had something left for the end.

You know where I will be on Saturday!

Allez, Goldikova, encore!