 |
|
| Staff Writer |
 |
Jockey Craig Williams took full responsibility for the disappointing performance of Giga Kick in his comeback race at Moonee Valley. Despite being the favorite in the Gr.2 McEwen Stakes over 1000m, Giga Kick got off to a slow start and was the last of the seven runners to leave the starting gates.
Williams, however, made a tactical decision to push Giga Kick forward from the 500m mark, hoping to make up for lost ground. As they turned for home, Giga Kick was just a length behind the leaders. But their chances of victory were dashed when Imperatriz, a strong contender with odds of US$3.90, unleashed a remarkable burst of speed from the back of the pack. Imperatriz stormed past the competition, winning by an impressive 2-½ lengths and setting a new track record for the 1000m distance, shaving off 0.16 seconds.
Despite Imperatriz's impressive performance, Williams believed that the outcome could have been different if he had made better decisions during the race. He admitted that his own error in judgment had cost Giga Kick a chance at victory. Williams shouldered the blame for the defeat, acknowledging that it was a case of pilot error.
‘It was pilot error,” Williams said.
“He was a little bit slow out and then found himself further back and in a perfect world I would just slide into the race.
“Unfortunately, because he is so good and so competitive, today we lost, but I might have learned something.
“I rode Miss Finland one time before I won the Thousand Guineas and the (Victorian) Oaks on her and I was better for the experience that time.
“Unfortunately, it has cost Giga Kick the chance of winning today’s race.”
Clayton Douglas, the trainer of Giga Kick, has confirmed that the gelding will continue on its path towards The Everest, a 1200m race taking place at Randwick next month.
Douglas stated that there have been no alterations to the plans, and the horse will be participating in the Gr.2 Premiere Stakes, also held at Randwick, as its next race on 30th Septemeber.