Cover image courtesy of the Victoria Racing Club
Talented juvenile Giga Kick remains unbeaten after two starts, following an impressive win in Saturday’s Trevor Clarke H. (1000 metres) at Flemington.
And according to Rodney Douglas – racing manager for Jonathan Munz’s Pinecliff Racing, who bred and race the 2-year-old, Giga Kick’s ability is far superior to his looks.
Douglas told TDN AusNZ that Giga Kick - a chestnut by Scissor Kick – has taken the team by surprise. Asked what he was like as a foal, Douglas was blunt.
“Terrible, backward, immature, horrible-looking,” he said. “We didn’t think much of him, but he’s come on and probably been one of our better 2-year-olds.”
“We didn’t think much of him (Giga Kick), but he’s come on and probably been one of our better 2-year-olds.” - Rodney Douglas
Giga Kick was first-up, having been tipped out after a stylish 4.3l debut success in a Sale maiden in February.
“He’s grown a fair bit and he’s probably about 40 kilos heavier than when he won on debut at Sale. He was a very immature type of horse, that’s why we weren’t tempted to push on. I was the one who said, ‘Let’s turn him out and we might have a decent 3-year-old’,” he added.
Easy in the betting, Giga Kick controlled the race from the front under apprentice Matthew Cartwright and saw off all challengers, including second-placed Lascars (Sepoy), third-placed Salaasel (Fastnet Rock) and the regally bred Tapin’ Three (Zoustar), who was fourth.
He registered a 10.67s sectional between the 600-400 metres and 10.82s between the 400-200 metres, before stopping the clock at 58.04s, with the official margin 1.25l.
More in the tank
Rodney Douglas said Giga Kick will derive great benefit from Saturday’s outing.
“We saw his ability at his first start and then his first trial this time in on the synthetic he was really good,” he said
“He’s still got a fair bit of improvement in him. I was worried the 1000 metres would be a bit short for him, but he was too good.
“I don’t think he was at home on that really wet track. That was the worry for me, I had hoped the track had dried out a bit and it obviously has, it’s probably more a Slow 6 than a 7.
“He (Matthew) just said he was floating in front when that horse (Lascars) come at him today, but he kicked clear and was good. He looked a bit lost at me, but he’ll be better back around a bend, I’d say.
“That said, it’s pleasing to tick the straight track box in case we want to go to the (G2) Danehill (S.) later in the spring with him.
“He’s going to keep improving, I think his go will be 1400 metres. He’ll get his chance.”
Giga Kick is a son of stakes-placed mare Rekindled Applause (GB) (Royal Applause {GB}), who has thrown two stakes-placed winners and is grandam of Yulong’s G1 CF Orr S. winner Alabama Express. He is from the family of dual Group 2 winner Rekindled Interest (Redoute’s Choice).
Giga Kick is related to Alabama Express (pictured) | Standing at Yulong Stud
“To me, he hasn’t impressed me like horses like Rekindled Interest and those type of horses, but you can’t beat winning. He was very impressive his first start and he’s done the job again today,” Rodney Douglas said.
There will be no hiding for Giga Kick at his next, with the gelding to tackle the G3 Vain S. at Caulfield on August 13. That race is worth $200,000, will be run over 1100 metres and is open to 3-year-old colts and geldings.
“His next run will be the Vain Stakes in about four weeks. We’ll run him there and we’ll see where he measures up in the spring. We’ll sit down and work out who will ride him (in the Vain), we’ll go back to a senior (jockey). That race should tell us where he sits from a spring perspective,” Douglas added.
“His (Giga Kick's) next run will be the Vain Stakes in about four weeks. We’ll run him there and we’ll see where he measures up in the spring. We’ll sit down and work out who will ride him (in the Vain), we’ll go back to a senior (jockey). That race should tell us where he sits from a spring perspective.” - Rodney Douglas.
Giga Kick is trained by Rodney’s nephew, Clayton.
“It’s good for Clayton, it’s got him going,” said Rodney.
Clayton agreed with his uncle, adamant Giga Kick will come on from the run.
“(He was) a little bit new down the straight the first go - he had a wander around and got there (lead) a bit early, but got the job done,” Clayton told Racing.com.
Clayton Douglas | Image courtesy of Racing Victoria
“I think he’ll improve a lot of that, I think he came here about 80 per cent.
“He needed that trial the other day on the Heavy ground and then when he galloped on Tuesday, I knew he was getting there (fitness-wise).
“The idea to have him in early was that he’s only had the one run and he’s going to be meeting some pretty experienced horses through the spring.
“So, this was always going to be more of an educational run and going forward, he’ll take a lot of improvement.”
Scissor Kick stood at Arrowfield Stud, before shuttling to Haras d’Etreham in France in 2017.
