Giga Kick Bypassing Premiere Ahead Of Everest

According to a report by Racenet, James McDonald's first race ride on the famous horse Giga Kick will be in The Everest in October. The horse will miss a planned lead-up run in the Premiere Stakes, as his connections feel that his first-up run was too tough, given a controversial ride by Craig Williams. The 2022 The Everest winner is now best off heading straight to The Everest on 14th October, six weeks between runs to win back-to-back The Everests.

Trainer Clayton Douglas is likely to give his star sprinter one trial, most probably in Sydney, in preparation for The Everest where he remains the US$4.50 favourite. Giga Kick finished third as US$1.95 favourite behind Imperatriz in the McEwen Stakes at The Valley, after which jockey Craig Williams issued an apology post-race, accepting full responsibility for the defeat. He was subsequently sacked from the ride, with James McDonald, who was currently sidelined with injury, his replacement.

McDonald was set to return early from a broken foot to ride Giga Kick in the Gr.2 Premiere Stakes at Randwick on 30th September, but the horse will not line up in the Premiere. Until he got the call-up to replace Williams on Giga Kick, McDonald had been without a ride in The Everest after the retirement of champion Nature Strip, which he won the rich race on in 2021. Giga Kick is attempting to become the second horse to win back-to-back The Everests after inaugural champion Redzel achieved the feat in 2017 and 2018.