Giga Kick had his first look around The Valley on Tuesday morning as the sprinting star prepares for his spring return in Saturday’s Group 2 McEwen Stakes.
Craig Williams partnered the dual G1 winner in his piece of work, days before he meets a small but select field over 1000 metres first-up with ‘still a bit of juice left in the tank’ according to trainer Clayton Douglas.
Ben Sporle, Article – Racing.com
GIGA KICK 🦵 wasn’t out to break any records this morning but gee he looks an absolute picture! 📸@CWilliamsJockey @c_douglasracing #LoveTheValley pic.twitter.com/4X7EGlAWBQ
— Moonee Valley Racing Club (@TheValley) September 4, 2023
“If there is going to be a time he’s vulnerable, maybe Saturday, but the horse has improved and is in really good order, so I am really happy with him,” Douglas said.
“He will probably reel off a really big finish and if that’s good enough I’m sure he’ll be hard to beat.
“Hopefully he can begin cleanly, it’s been a bit of a thing in the past, he has been a bit steady away and that’s probably what got him beat first-up last preparation, he blundered a little bit at the start.
“Small field, hopefully he’s not too far off them and as long as he’s got good galloping room, hopefully he’s hitting the line hard.”
Douglas said he won’t get caught up in tactical battles or track patterns as to how to ride Giga Kick.
“We just have to ride our horse as to how we find him,” he said.
“We know that he will settle off the speed somewhere, they’ll go quick and as long as he has galloping room, I’ll be happy.”
"If there's going to be a time where he's vulnerable, maybe it's Saturday."
Giga Kick will commence his spring campaign at The Valley this weekend ⭐
@c_douglasracing pic.twitter.com/37sd4c3Y1i— Racing.com (@Racing) September 5, 2023
The four-year-old will race 30 kilograms heavier than his first-up run last run last preparation for what is likely to be his only Melbourne appearance this spring.
“It is going to be a great race, the New Zealand horse (Imperatriz), she is a really good mare and we actually stayed in Sydney together, so we know each other quite well from last spring.
“It’s going to be an exciting race I reckon and obviously the Queensland horses Rothfire and Zoustyle are coming down, so there is going to be plenty of speed and it’s going to be a great race to watch.”
Giga Kick is $1.80 in pre-acceptance markets for the McEwen Stakes, ahead of Imperatriz ($3.50).
- Trainer
- – C.Douglas
- Age
- – 4YO
- Sex
- -Gelding
- Colour
- -Chestnut
- Prize Money
- -$9,599,700
- Last 5
- 3211-
- Career
- 10-7-1-1
| POS | Jockey | Track | Date | DIST | Race | WGT | MRG | Odds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 – 10 | C.Williams | DOOM | 13 MAY 2023 | 1200m | DOOMBEN 10,000 | 57kg | 0.4L | $1.65 | |
| 1 – 11 | C.Williams | RAND | 15 APR 2023 | 1400m | ALL AGED | 56.5kg | 1.7L | $2.90 | |
| 2 – 13 | Z.Purton | RAND | 1 APR 2023 | 1200m | T J SMITH | 56.5kg | 0.6L | $6.50 | |
| 3 – 9 | C.Williams | RAND | 4 MAR 2023 | 1000m | CHALLENGE | 56kg | 1.2L | $4.60 |