The most unrecognisable trainer with a runner in The Everest was almost refused entry to the Caulfield mounting yard last week – because security had no idea who he was.
Clayton Douglas is the fresh-faced Victorian visitor trying to pinch Saturday’s $15 million Randwick feature with the youngest horse in the field, Giga Kick.
Douglas, 27, happily admits to having never met some of his rival trainers, including Godolphin chief James Cummings.
A former jockey and jumps jockey, Douglas said he once rode for trainer Chris Waller in a race at Yarra Glen, “but I was beaten on one of his favourites, and never got an offer to ride for him again”.
Douglas has done more media this week than he has the past couple of years since he quit riding to focus on training.
“If people didn’t know me, they will now,” Douglas told the Herald on Friday.
Clayton Douglas and Giga Kick looking relaxed on Friday before Ther Everest. Credit:Brook Mitchell/SMH
“And if we were to win an Everest, people will start to think I have a fair idea about what I’m doing.
“I get it, we’re talking about the young kid on the block taking on the big established names in racing.
“It’s quite funny, I was at Caulfield last week and I left my trainer’s badge at home, so I couldn’t get into the mounting yard.
“I was trying to explain to security I was a horse trainer. I had a runner in a group 2 race. I think they thought I was talking the mickey out of them.
“I ended up getting in, but only after I went to the race-day office and had to do a bit of wheeling and dealing.
“The publicity this week has been great. I know the sky’s the limit for this horse.”
Douglas grew up around horses, and had dreams of following his idol Nick Riewoldt and playing for St Kilda in the AFL. One of his best mates, Jake Aarts, plays for Richmond.
While he was never big enough to pursue football professionally, he almost became too heavy to sustain a life in the saddle.
The three-year-old chestnut has attracted seven-figure offers from Hong Kong.Credit:Brook Mitchell/SMH
Despite winning some of the biggest jumps races in the country – and breaking no shortage of bones along the way – Douglas struggled to keep the weight off. The thought of having to lose nearly 13kg in 12 days to ride a smart horse called Super Seth at his second career start still gives him cold sweats.
Giga Kick has won all four career starts but bookies don’t give him much hope. There have been offers worth more than $1m from Hong Kong, but billionaire owner Jonathan Munz hardly needs the cash.
Technically, Giga Kick is still two years of age and does not turn three until next week.
When the Herald photographed the horse at John Thompson’s stables, Giga Kick could not have been more relaxed. He is a striking chestnut with three white socks, or white markings at the bottom of three of his legs. He didn’t even flinch when a rat you could strap a saddle on darted past him in front of the camera.
Douglas knows Giga Kick will improve with whatever he does on Saturday. The best thing about his gelding is he can run time.
The horse will return south after the weekend to tackle the Coolmore Stud Stakes for three-year-olds in a fortnight at Flemington.
Douglas likes to stand on his own at the track whenever his horse races. At least the 40,000-plus punters at Randwick will have no idea who he is. That might all change by about 4.20pm after The Everest.
