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| Staff Writer |
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Giga Kick, last year's The Everest champion, is gearing up for a tilt at reclaiming his crown despite a fifth-place finish in the Concorde Stakes. Trainer Clayton Douglas remains bullish, confident that the talented sprinter still has plenty in the tank as the spring carnival unfolds.
While Giga Kick finished three lengths behind I Am Me in the Concorde, Douglas was far from disheartened. "All in all, I'm pretty happy," he said, noting the challenging race pace and conditions that didn't suit horses coming from off the pace. Despite that, Giga Kick showed his trademark turn of foot in the final 50 metres, leaving Douglas optimistic about what's to come.
The game plan now is to fine-tune the sprinter with a trial at Canterbury in a fortnight before targeting the Gr.2 Premiere Stakes on 5 October. A victory there could be the perfect springboard into The Everest, where Giga Kick is looking to join the elite club of multiple winners.
The Premiere Stakes has been a launching pad for sprinting superstars in recent years. Classique Legend took out the 2020 edition before going on to claim The Everest glory that same year. The mighty Redzel secured back-to-back victories in 2017 and 2018, using the race as a stepping stone to his own dual Everest triumphs.
"Ideally, he goes and wins that and it's on to The Everest," Douglas said, as connections look to secure a slot in the US$11.4 million feature. The trainer's confidence is palpable, and with good reason – Giga Kick's explosive turn of foot was on full display in last year's Everest triumph, where he stormed home to defeat Private Eye and Mazu in a thrilling finish.
The 4YO son of Scissor Kick has already amassed over US$7.7 million in prize money from just 11 starts, a testament to his immense talent and Douglas' expert handling. While the Concorde Stakes run wasn't ideal, it's clear that Team Giga Kick is far from pressing the panic button.
Douglas believes the Premiere Stakes will provide the perfect platform for Giga Kick to showcase his true abilities. "He's come through the Concorde in great order," the trainer reported. "The step up to 1200m will suit him down to the ground, and I'm expecting to see a much sharper performance."
With The Everest looming large on the horizon, the pressure is on for Giga Kick to secure his slot and prove he's still the force to be reckoned with in Australia's sprint ranks. As the countdown to the world's richest turf race continues, all eyes will be on Canterbury and then Randwick to see if the reigning champion can recapture the magic that saw him reach the pinnacle of sprinting glory in 2022.