Latest news with #ScissorKick
New Paper
09-05-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
Giga Kick is Good to go
On weights and measures alone, Giga Kick should street his 12 rivals in the A$1 million (S$833,000) Group 1 The Goodwood (1,200m) at Morphettville on May 10. With a top rating of 116, and Charm Stone the next best on 108, he should be the top-weight and give 4kg or more to the rest. But The Goodwood is a set-weights race where the handicapper sifts through performances in the last two years. As awesome as his second at his penultimate start in the 2024 The Everest (1,200m) was, the lightly raced chestnut has not won since the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1,200m) in May 2023, when his rating peaked to 117. The Scissor Kick five-year-old's next five starts have not been without merit. Trainer Clayton Douglas' seven-time winner never finished worse than three lengths off, with his head-second to Bella Nipotina in The Everest prompting the handicapper to shave only one point off his rating. But six months have elapsed since his last outing - a 2.4-length seventh in the Group 1 Champions Sprint (1,200m) at Flemington on Nov 9. The 2022 Everest winner's rustiness could offset the 55kg (Mark Zahra will ride him ½kg over), but three solid barrier trials have topped him off nicely. Gate 12 is also tricky, but Morphettville's wide straight gives horses ample time to find room. On class, Giga Kick should win, but do not ignore the in-form Reserve Bank, last year's runner-up Stretan Angel and last-start Group 1 Robert Sangster (1,200m) winner Charm Stone. manyan@
The Australian
09-05-2025
- Sport
- The Australian
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. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! 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 READ: Bedggood hoping extra trip brings change in Fortune 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 READ: Mate's success drives Price to pull off Goodwood upset 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.'
News.com.au
09-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Everest winner Giga Kick poised to let fly in The 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. 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.' 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 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.'
Scotsman
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Scissor Kick presents "Deep Wheel Orcadia": A Celebration of Language, Identity, and Survival in Sci-Fi Theatre
In a world where the future often feels uncertain and divided, one production is reminding us of the power of language, identity, and connection. Deep Wheel Orcadia, based on Harry Josephine Giles' award-winning verse novel, is a thrilling new show that blends sci-fi with theatre, while offering a unique and much-needed celebration of minority language and queer identity. Produced by the acclaimed Scottish theatre company Scissor Kick, this spellbinding performance is set to make waves when it embarks on a tour across Scotland in June and July 2025. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Directed by Susan Worsfold, Deep Wheel Orcadia invites audiences into a universe where Orkney Scots – a language often relegated to the past – takes centre stage. Performed entirely in this vibrant dialect, the play offers English surtitles, ensuring the rich linguistic texture resonates with everyone. Along with an extraordinary original score by BAFTA-winning composer Atzi Muramatsu, the production is nothing short of groundbreaking. At its heart, Deep Wheel Orcadia is a story of survival, exploration, and connection in the most unlikely of places. Astrid, a young artist returning from Mars, finds herself adrift on a decaying space station orbiting distant stars. The station – Deep Wheel Orcadia – is a metaphor for isolation, its inhabitants fighting to hold onto their humanity amidst the vast cold of space. When Astrid meets Darling, a mysterious Martian seeking refuge, the fragile connection between them becomes a lifeline. This bond explores themes of queer identity, the search for belonging, and the struggle to survive in a world that is slowly unraveling. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad But Deep Wheel Orcadia isn't just a tale of futuristic survival. It's a celebration of the Orkney Scots language, a living minority language that is often dismissed as a relic of the past. Giles, who both writes and performs in the show, is determined to prove that Orkney Scots is not something that belongs solely to history. "Minority languages, particularly rural ones, are often cast as fading relics,' she says. 'But I wanted to send Orkney Scots into space, into the future, to show it is as much about now and what comes next as much as it is about the past.' "Deep Wheel Orcadia" This sentiment runs through the entire production, which boldly resists the notion that languages like Orkney Scots are outdated or irrelevant. Instead, it places the dialect at the heart of a narrative that spans time, space, and genre. The play demonstrates that language is not just a link to our past, but a tool for shaping our future. As Deep Wheel Orcadia charts its course from Orkney to the mainland, it becomes a vivid testament to linguistic resilience and the importance of cultural expression. But beyond its linguistic significance, the play also tackles pressing questions about identity and belonging. How do we find our place in a world that often feels alien? How do we hold onto who we are when everything around us is shifting? These are questions that many will resonate with, especially in an era where issues of gender, identity, and survival are more urgent than ever. Deep Wheel Orcadia speaks to the queerness of space itself: vast, mysterious, and full of possibility. It's a place where we can reimagine who we are and how we relate to each other, far beyond the constraints of time and geography. The play doesn't just collapse time, it collapses space, inviting audiences into a world where language, love, and survival exist in a delicate, intertwining dance. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad
