The Everest favourite Giga Kick enjoyed time in the water as a reward for impressing trainer Clayton Douglas with his jumpout at Cranbourne on Monday morning. Giga Kick trialled alongside spring contenders What You Need and Magic Time in an 850m hitout on the Cranbourne Racecourse course proper.
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Jockey Craig Williams kept a tight hold on Giga Kick throughout the heat but the brilliant four-year-old easily improved between runners to win the trial narrowly over Group 2-placed mare Wee Nessy.
Douglas said Giga Kick achieved his objective at his first public appearance since his dynamic win in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 in Brisbane in June.
Douglas said the gelding easily handled the rise in intensity in his build-up towards his first-up run in the Group 2 McEwen Stakes at The Valley next month.
“He’s a bit of a freak this horse because a half-mile trial to him is not a lot,” Douglas said.
“It was just good to get him on a good surface and that was exactly what I wanted to see this morning.
“He was nice and energetic and he’s in good shape.
“He went straight down and had a little wade in the water and he seemed to have pulled up really well from his first one back.”
"I've got a lot more in front of me, that's for sure."@CWilliamsJockey couldn't have been more impressed with his trial on a 'bigger & stronger' Giga Kick 👊
@c_douglasracing pic.twitter.com/dGq5wds0Iq— Racing.com (@Racing) August 21, 2023
Douglas said the jumpout provided more that a fitness benefit for Giga Kick.
Giga Kick was able to briefly compete against quality opposition on a good racing surface but Douglas said a change in scenery away from his Mornington base was also important.
“He wasn’t asked to do too much either as he was more out just to stretch the legs and to get him away from home,” Douglas said.
“He hadn’t really been away from this prep since he came back from Queensland.
Giga Kick with his mate Frankie the pony. Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images.
“It was great to be able to get over there and trial on the course proper against some genuine spring contenders as well.”
TAB has Giga Kick as a $3.50 favourite for The Everest at Randwick on October 14.
Douglas said the bid for back-to-back wins in Australia’s richest race was proceeding as planned.
“We’re obviously the benchmark horse and he’s in great shape as he needs to be as favourite for The Everest,” Douglas said.
“We’re in a really good position at the moment as I was very happy with what I saw this morning and the way he pulled up.
“I’m looking forward to his first-up assignment at The Valley.”
Clayton Douglas with Giga Kick on Monday. Photo: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images