After nearly 18 months away, Giga Kick prepares for a Sydney return in the Challenge Stakes at Randwick, building towards The Championships.

The crack sprinter’s most recent Sydney effort was a second placing behind Bella Nipotina in the 2024 The Everest (1200m), positioning Saturday’s Randwick 1000m heat as his preliminary challenge barring adverse weather.

Douglas relocated Giga Kick to Sydney Saturday and holds off on a firm commitment for the gelding until after Tuesday’s gallop.

The conditioner watches the skies but pushes forward with plans for the gelding’s prep race before the Group 1 T J Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick April 4.

“Nash Rawiller will ride him. He will probably have a sit on him on Tuesday morning,” Douglas said.

“Everything seems to be on target.

“Hopefully we will get a bit of give in the ground. That’s going to be the main thing for him.

“It will be another run towards the T J and then hopefully we’re ready to go.”

This approach echoes 2023, with Giga Kick taking bronze behind Passive Aggressive in the Challenge Stakes (1000m) en route to second against I Wish I Win in the T J Smith Stakes.

Stablemate Top Reward travels north after a solid fifth to Australian Guineas winner Observer in the Autumn Stakes (1400m) first-up at Caulfield.

Entries exist for the three-year-old in Rosehill Guineas (2000m) and ATC Australian Derby (2400m), preceded by the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill March 14.

“He will trial on Thursday at Randwick and then it’s nine days to the race,” Douglas said.

“It will be a month between runs, but the trial in between will do him good.

“(Stepping up from) 1400 to 1500 will suit him. I might even put a set of blinkers on him in the trial.”

Fans should visit racing odds at trusted sports betting platforms ahead of the Challenge Stakes.