The Everest winner Giga Kick delivered another freakish performance in Saturday’s All Aged Stakes to add a group 1 page to the story of the horse no one wanted to the three-year-old no one can buy.
James McDonald, who rode runner-up Zaaki, summed up what might become a repeat story in years to come when he said “too good” as Craig Williams swept past him on Giga Kick at the 200m mark on his way to 1¾ length win relatively untouched.
Giga Kick cruises past Zaaki in the All Aged Stakes.Credit: Getty
It nearly didn’t happen. Giga Kick’s trainer, Clayton Douglas, almost scratched him when the track came up heavy on Saturday morning.
“If it wasn’t for the track manager Mike Wood I would have taken him out,” Douglas said. “I had a talk to him and he said it would be right, and it was.
“It was perfect for him, and he is just a freak.
“I was worried in the run, but I didn’t need to be because when Craig got him to the centre of the track he just had them covered.”
Giga Kick’s owner, Jonathan Munz, will do a deal for The Everest on his terms after Giga Kick’s first group 1 win, which will also open the option for the Golden Eagle in the spring.
His Pinecliff Racing racing manager Rod Douglas remembered where the son of Scissor Kick sat when they were deciding where to send horses a couple of years ago.
“We had 40 horses that year and he was number 40. We thought, ‘let’s give the kid [trainer Clayton Douglas] a go and see what happens’,” Rod Douglas said. “A lot has happened since then.
“We have knocked back offers of $400,000, $700,000, $1.5 million, 1.75, 2.5 and finally in Everest week the bloke rang and said $4 million.
“I said, ‘we don’t need the money and don’t ring again’.
“Let’s face it, the way he is going he could be doing this for a few more years. He is still a young horse and still learning.”
Giga Kick won the $15 million Everest a couple of days after the final offer and, although he hadn’t won since in three starts, he was never disgraced.
He struck trouble when unplaced in the VRC Sprint Classic, and went down on his nose coming out of the gates first up in the Challenge Stakes when a closing third to Passion Aggressive. Then Giga Kick was runner-up to I Wish I Win in the TJ Smith Stakes when he bounced off other runners and was lucky to stay on his feet coming around the turn.
Craig Williams returned from injury and to the saddle of Giga Kick ($2.90 fav) in the All Aged and didn’t need the whip as he came around the field. He had not let the three-year-old off the bridle when he charged past Zaaki at the 250m.
“You don’t get that feeling too often. You never get it in a group 1,” Williams said. “He is just a serious horse that has a big a sprint as anything I have been on.
“He always has been and the way Clayton is developing him should not be underestimated. He just keeps getting better, and it has a lot to do with a marvelous horseman.
“You have to remember that is only his ninth start and he has won an Everest and a group 1.”
It was a performance that left four-time group 1 winner Zaaki ($6) and three-time group 1 winner Cascadian ($6.50) in his wake.
“So brave in defeat. He is an old marvel with so much upside. He keeps turning up,” said McDonald of Zaaki. “He will be better when he gets up in trip in Brisbane.”
Nash Rawiller said of Cascadian that he “just missed the bob for second but was working home better than any horse. He went enormous.”
But the winner might just be the best horse in the country and, being a gelding, punters will be able to enjoy Giga Kick for many, many years.
Sports news, results and expert commentary. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.
