It has been close to four years since Giga Kick and Clayton Douglas were the celebrated names in Australian racing.
The pair achieved a significant victory in The Everest at Randwick in October 2022, and the following autumn, they secured the All-Aged Stakes and the Doomben 10,000. During this period, Giga Kick also earned the distinction of Australian Champion Sprinter.
Giga Kick was considered the rising star in Australian sprinting circles, and Douglas had devised a program to emulate their past success by aiming for the 2023 Everest.
However, this plan was significantly altered in the Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley on September 9, 2023, where Giga Kick finished third, a performance that left his connections in disbelief.
It was later determined that Giga Kick had suffered a deep-seated muscle tear in his hindquarter, necessitating a rehabilitation period of nearly a year before the gelding could make his return to the racecourse.
This particular injury requires ongoing meticulous management and has consequently restricted Giga Kick to just 12 starts over the three years that have passed.
Despite these setbacks, Giga Kick has demonstrably not lost any of his sprinting prowess. He returned to secure second place in the 2024 Everest and subsequently won the Schillaci Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield and the VRC Sprint Classic (1200m) at Flemington last spring.
Giga Kick is now set to commence his latest campaign by competing in the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at Sandown this Saturday.
The Moir Stakes is traditionally held at Moonee Valley, but this year’s edition has been moved due to ongoing renovations at The Valley track.
Douglas is content for the race to be held at Sandown, a track Giga Kick has never previously raced at, but one where he has had considerable ‘practice’ in the lead-up.
Following a jump-out placing last week and a gallop on the Sandown track on Tuesday, Douglas is confident that Giga Kick is ready to deliver a strong first-up performance.
“He’s forward as he’s been in work a long time,” Douglas said. “The 1000 metres, he’s definitely ready for. He hasn’t won a good race over the 1000 before, but this track will give him his chance. It’s a good race with a lot of speedsters in it which makes the race more intriguing. There’s going to be a lot of pressure and Giga Kick is at his best when there is a lot of pressure, so hopefully it falls into our favour.”
Giga Kick won the Schillaci Stakes first-up last October, and Douglas is of the view that the gelding is in a similar vein of form this year.
Moreover, the possibility of a rain-affected track is not expected to pose any issues for the horse.
“His wind is good, his action is good, he’s moving very well,” Douglas commented. “He’s seven, and he’s a big strong boy. He’s an amazing horse and comes back and just does what he has to do every preparation, but being and older horse, we’re always managing him, always watching his action, making sure that’s 100 per cent. His body has been great for quite some time, and he goes to the race fit, well and healthy. I’ve done my job.”
Mark Zahra, who previously partnered Giga Kick to victory in the VRC Champions Sprint, will ride the gelding for the first time since that success on Saturday.
Giga Kick has drawn gate nine in the field of 13 runners, which includes notable competitors such as Rothfire, Skybird, Generosity, My Gladiola, Point Barrow, Cavalry Girl, and Natural Fling.
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