Think About It and Giga Kick building for The Everest with impressive trials at Canterbury

Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography

Think About It cruises in

The past two winners of The Everest – Think About It (So You Think {NZ}) and Giga Kick (Scissor Kick) – impressed in their respective trials at Canterbury, both looking in fine shape ahead of the world’s richest sprint at Randwick on October 19.

Think About It, last year’s The Everest winner, was not overly exerted in Heat 8 over 901 metres. With Jason Collett aboard for trainer Joe Pride, he finished a strong second to the fast-finishing Corniche (Fastnet Rock). Think About It’s supporters will be pleased with his $17 odds for The Everest, especially considering Collett held him back while still finishing strongly.

Godolphin's 4-year-old gelding Corniche was ridden by Zac Lloyd, he was asked for a big effort by Lloyd inside the final furlong and he responded, recording an impressive win by a head on the line.

Corniche looks set for a competitive spring, after finishing last in the G3 Fred Best at Eagle Farm last start on June 1. But before that, the Godolphin gelding saluted in the G3 Gold Coast Guineas over 1200 metres on May 11.

Coming home strongly in third was the Peter Snowden-trained G2 Expressway S. winner King Of Sparta (I Am Invincible) sporting the Newgate-China Horse Club colours.

Giga Kick surges toward The Everest

Giga Kick (Scissor Kick) is also building nicely for the $20 million The Everest after a blinding final furlong saw him salute in Trial 9 over 901 metres.

The 5-year-old gelding started slowly but found clear running down the straight, narrowly edging out Pisanello (Ribchester {Ire}) by a head.

As a 3-year-old, Giga Kick gunned down stars Nature Strip (Nicconi), Private Eye (Al Maher) and Mazu (Maurice {Jpn}) to win The Everest two years ago, and on Tuesday he displayed the same tenacity to spectacularly launch late and prevail.

Following a strong fifth-place finish in the G3 Concorde on September 7, Giga Kick’s odds for The Everest stand at $8, and trainer Clayton Douglas is optimistic about his progress leading into the G2 Premiere S. at Randwick on October 5.

“He’s a high-quality horse and he loves his racing, he loves being a racehorse. He seems to be back in as good an order as he ever has,” Douglas said recently.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge going forward. If everything goes smoothly, he’s bigger and stronger.

“He’s a much stronger version after winning (The Everest) as a 3-year-old. He’s come back as a 5-year-old mature horse.

“Mentally and physically, he’s grown up, and it’s scary to think what he can do on Everest Day.”

First trial winner for Lucky Vega

At Te Rapa on Tuesday 2-year-old colt Vega For Luck handed his first season sire Lucky Vega a first trial winner.

The colt, trained by Ben and Ryan Foote, was an impressive 2.5l winner over the Paul Richards-trained The Resolute (Brutal {NZ}). In third was Romanoff (Belardo {Ire}), trained by Pam Gerard.

Bred by Inglewood Stud, Vega For Luck was a New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale purchase for NZ$60,000 to Ahead All Bloodstock.

Godolphin runners look the goods

Kallos (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) was another Group winner on display at Canterbury, this year’s G2 Rubiton S. winner finishing second by 1.25l to The Novelist (Written By) in Trial 10 over 901 metres.

The Novelist became the first stakes winner for his sire, Written By, when he claimed victory in the G3 BJ McLachlan S. in 2022. However, his last preparation as a 3-year-old saw him struggle, finishing 11th and 12th in two Group 3 races. Since then, he has been gelded, and this trial marked his second trial win this prep following a victory at Randwick on September 9. Marking him as one to keep an eye on for the autumn.

Gallery: Godolphin runners to keep an eye on this spring, images courtesy of Georgia Young Photography

Another 4-year-old with potential for Godolphin is Drift Net (Exceed And Excel), who took out Trial 11 by 0.5l, with Bronco Revolution (Russian Revolution) running second.

Waterford (Awtaad {Ire}) – a versatile 6-year-old gelding for Chris Waller – also looked good, finishing fourth.

Evenflow, Mayweather pack a powerful punch for Snowden

Peter Snowden had a pair of 3-year-old colts who won well – Evenflow (Super Seth) in Trial 5 and Mayweather (Lonhro) in Trial 20.

Evenflow – who won his maiden at Wyong on June 13 – had rider Tom Sherry see him enjoy a 5l lead with 200 metres to go, before easing to salute by 0.5l over Glad You Think So (So You Think {NZ}).

Evenflow’s sire Super Seth was crowned New Zealand Champion First Season Sire for the 2023-24 season.

Mayweather was a convincing 3l winner in Trial 20, with Thibaut Cousin aboard, and Century Song (Microphone) running second.

Mayweather is yet to start, but the colt looks to have plenty of potential.

The late Lonhro has sired 82 stakes winners in Australia.

Don’t Forget Jack could be one to remember for punters

At Doomben, Don’t Forget Jack (Headwater) put himself in a good fifth position, before proving too strong over the last 100 metres to win by 1.5l over 1000 metres in Trial 10, with Andrew Mallyon aboard.

The 3-year-old gelding for Matthew Dunn has three starts to his name, winning two of them – a 2-year-old handicap by 1.2l at Muswellbrook on May 3, and another 2-year-old handicap by 3l at Doomben on May 29.

He did it comfortably again on Tuesday and looks to have plenty of class.

Da Snoop Dog (Capitalist) showed some greenness by moving from the rail to the outside early, before holding off Soul Intent (Frosted {USA}) in Trial 14, a 2-year-old open race over 840 metres.

Capitalist has sired 18 stakes winners, and colt Da Snoop Dog – with top jockey James Ormond in the saddle – could also make a name for himself like his famous rapper namesake.

Sequel (Cool Aza Beel {NZ}) also impressed in Trial 15 for 2-year-olds over 840 metres, comfortably prevailing by .25l for Peter Sinclair, and ridden by Mark Du Plessis.