Freddie Head is confident Goldikova can overcome a terrible draw and land back-to-back successes in the TVG Breeders' Cup Mile at Santa Anita on Friday.

The four-year-old was a brilliant winner of the Grade One prize 12 months ago and has won three of her five starts during the current campaign.

She was a slight disappointment on her latest outing in the Prix de la Foret at Longchamp a month ago, but Head is expecting his star filly to bounce back this weekend.

"There were excuses last time and she is coming back to a mile, which is her best trip. She has got a bad draw but we'll see and try to get over that" said Head.

"It's never easy, but if there is plenty of pace we should be OK. We will have to drop her in, but she does have a turn of foot and can quicken."

Goldikova is running on Lasix this year and the trainer added: "All the horses here are on it so we are competing on equal terms.

"She got very keyed up last time at Longchamp and hopefully it will help her relax a bit."

One of her chief dangers would appear to be Sir Michael Stoute's Zacinto, who chased home Breeders' Cup Classic favourite Rip Van Winkle in the QEII at Ascot on his latest appearance.

"The QEII was his best performance and I'm happy to leave him at that trip," said Stoute.

"I'd be more hopeful if Goldikova had not come."