Everest winner Giga Kick poised to let fly in The Goodwood
The Everest-winning Giga Kick has The Goodwood at his mercy with Mornington trainer Clayton Douglas delighted with his two-time Group 1 winner ahead of the $1 million sprint at Morphettville on Saturday.
The brilliant sprinter, which won the 2022 The Everest, headlines a field of 13 on Saturday, and will be the star attraction on the final day of the Adelaide Racing Carnival.
Years gone by has seen The Goodwood (1200m) lure stars of the turf such as Takeover Target (2009) and Black Caviar (2012) to Morphettville, yet Giga Kick, with almost $13 million in career earnings, will be the highest earning horse to ever race in Adelaide.
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The son of Scissor Kick enters Saturday's race first-up, six months between runs, and Douglas is confident he's ready to fly as a $2.20 favourite.
'I'm very happy with him, he obviously travelled over Wednesday,' Douglas said.
'I had a little trot and canter at Morphettville with him Thursday, and I'm very pleased with how he is.
'He had a nice gallop on the course proper at Mornington before he left, I thought he worked very well.
'Saturday's race looks like a really nice race for him, he's quite a seasoned traveller now.
'He's had three trials to get ready for this race – I'm looking forward to it.'
Giga Kick wins the All Aged Stakes at Randwick in 2023. Picture: Bradley Photos
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The Goodwood appeared the ideal kick-starter for Giga Kick, his weight of 54.5kg the lightest impost the gelding has carried since the Champions Sprint in 2022.
'Obviously with the weight relief he gets, through the set weights and penalties (it appealed),' he said.
'With the weight-for-age scale he would've got 58.5kg, just because he's a horse that hasn't won for a while he's missed the penalty.
'Getting in at 54.5kg, it's a very nice weight for him, for a horse that's won an Everest, and a big track like Morphettville should suit him.'
Giga Kick has two wins from five starts first-up, and will be piloted by Melbourne Cup-winning hoop Mark Zahra, who has had a brilliant Adelaide Carnival, winning the Australasian Oaks and Robert Sangster Stakes already.
Giga Kick, ridden by Douglas, at trackwork at Morphettville on Thursday . Picture: Racing SA
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Giga Kick has drawn barrier 12, and Douglas is optimistic the wide gate can work in their favour.
'They've been getting away from the rail I've noticed in the last few weeks, with a bit of racing, probably from his draw as well, it might suit him,' he said.
'It looks like they've been running on down the middle, I would suspect that's where he'll be, and hopefully he can be doing that Saturday.
'He will probably get that nice run, off the speed, travelling comfortably, hopefully somewhere wide with cover, and he can be blending in from there.
'When he's on, he's been an amazing horse to watch, what he did in an Everest as a three-year-old, he won an All Aged Stakes, beating some top class horses from a wide alley, from that wide gate I don't think it should be a problem.'
There will be plenty of excitement trackside when Giga Kick steps out on Saturday, a win in The Goodwood would add another chapter to what has been a journey of a lifetime for Douglas.
'It's a lot for someone like me to have a good horse like him,' Douglas said.
'He's such a well-credentialed horse, he's done so much for my career, as long as I'm ticking all the boxes and doing everything right by him I'm sure he'll keep repaying me.'
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