The first question Everest slot holder James Harron asked about unbeaten three-year-old Giga Kick was “does he handle the wet?” Once he got an answer in the affirmative, a deal to run the Danehill Stakes winner in The Everest was all but done.
He’s not the horse everyone has been talking about but Harron believes Giga Kick could be the X-factor of the October 15 race at Randwick.
Craig Williams urges Giga Kick to the front in the Danehill Stakes.Credit:Getty
Giga Kick, a winner of all four of his starts in Melbourne, becomes the first unbeaten horse to run in The Everest.
“We had been talking to them for a little while and his figures on the weekend were as good as the open sprinters,” Harron said. “A three-year-old has won it before and with the light weight he could be the horse to do it again.
“There are a few things you need to know when you’re trying to get a horse and with the weather around, performing on a heavy track was an important one.
“He has handled it in a [barrier] trial and that Craig Williams has decided to come up for The Everest is another big bonus.”
Clayton Douglas with his Everest runner Giga Kick.Credit:Racing Photos
Giga Kick has the racing style to take advantage of what should be a frantic early tempo and Williams believes he can test the likes of Nature Strip late.
Giga Kick’s inclusion leaves Inglis and Godolphin as the only slot holders left to announce their runners for The Everest. Godolphin will choose between a raft of sprinters with Kementari and Paulele, the frontrunners, while Inglis are looking for a replacement for Snapdancer and are favoured to take Private Eye.
Giga Kick getting a slot is a massive boost for the fledging career of former jumps jockey Clayton Douglas, who has only had 24 winners as a trainer. He has earned a little more than $1.3 million. Even if Giga Kick runs third in The Everest he would more than double his career earnings.
“I’m pinching myself. It is unreal to be a part of the whole ride with this horse,” Douglas said.
“He is a multiple stakes winner and to think I have a horse with this ability and of this quality is amazing. Even to be a contender for an Everest it’s going to be a great experience.”
Giga Kick won twice as a two-year-old, but Craig Williams has teamed with him this spring, firstly when he came with a powerful surge to win the Vain Stakes before being too strong despite carrying a penalty in the Danehill Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.
“It is hard to know [how good he is]. He is such an exciting horse, he has done everything right to this point,” Douglas continued. “He is such a professional, he has the right attitude and right demeanour to cope with everything. He has done things that other horses just don’t do.”
Giga Kick is a $26 chance for The Everest, where horse-of-the-year Nature Strip has firmed to be an even-money favourite.
Meanwhile, the other wildcard in the $15 million showcase, former Hong Kong sprinter Joyful Fortune won a Randwick barrier trial on Tuesday and trainer Mark Newnham confirmed Tommy Sherry would ride him in The Everest.
Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Blake Shinn had the first offer of the ride, but he opted to ride the 2019 Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare in the Caulfield Cup in Melbourne on the same day.
“It was an easy decision for me because Tommy has done all the work on him leading up to him winning in Melbourne,” Newnham said. “He was on him in the trial on Tuesday and the horse and rider are a perfect combination.”
