Giga Kick continued his unlikely ascent at Flemington on Saturday, with the unbeaten three-year-old now confirmed as a prime chance for the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes.
A gelding by unheralded stallion Scissor Kick, Giga Kick again denied a number of expensive colts to claim an invaluable Group-race victory on Saturday when he ran clear then held on late to secure the G2 Danehill Stakes (1100m).
In August, Giga Kick won trainer Clayton Douglas his first G3 race when he won the Vain Stakes and on Saturday, he also registered his conditioner’s first at G2 level, with a shot at a maiden G1 to come in four weeks’ time.
“What a horse,” a relieved Douglas said after a thrilling finish between Giga Kick and Supido colt Buenos Noches. “Six weeks between runs, he was probably feeling it late in that contest, but it was a great effort.
“He’s done so well and I think he’s got nice improvement to come. He’s still big enough and still got plenty in the tank. We’ll just see how he pulls up, but I’m really happy with how he is and it was good to get the job done today.
“He was probably asked to go early and it was a good run, in a good solid-run race – I think they were only half-a-second outside the class record – so he’s a good horse this.
Race replay – Racing.com
“He’s only going to be better in the autumn but we’ve got a serious horse for the spring anyway.”
At just his fourth race start, Giga Kick started the $1.95 favourite but had to work right to the line to beat the Matthew Smith-trainer youngster Buenos Noches ($6), who failed by a nose to pick up the winner. Cannonball ($34) was a length-and-a-half away in third place.
On the back of his performance, Sportsbet reduced Giga Kick’s Coolmore Stud Stakes price to the third line of betting at $5.50 behind In Secret ($4.40) and Golden Rose winner Jacquinot ($4.40).
Jockey Craig Williams paid credit to the horse, but kept the bulk of his praise for Douglas, who registered just his 24th winner as a trainer on Saturday.
“He’s a great young man as a person in general but what a great horseman with an amazing story in racing,” Williams said.
“He had to go through being heavy (jockey), go through the picnics program to being a jumping jockey to being a really competitive flat jockey to now being one of our top trainers.
“To train this horse to race to still remain undefeated and you can with his continuation and the pre-parade report to say how much he’s come on and my job is pretty easy actually.
“Apart from being undefeated, to win this prestigious race, the Danehill, leading into the Coolmore, he’s a really exciting horse.”
Author – Andrew Eddy
Article – Racing.com