Clayton Douglas stood on the side of the stage after The Everest presentation trying to stop his phone from lighting up with well-wishers.
Giga Kick’s explosive win in The Everest means the 27-year-old trainer’s world is never going to be the same.
“I know that,” a smiling Douglas told The Sun-Herald.
“It’s been an unbelievable ride, and to have a horse like this, I haven’t experienced anything like this before. Even in the mounting yard, it’s all been amazing.
“To win a race like this, and for [owner] Jonathan Munz and slot-holder James Harron – they are big investors in the industry – they took a punt on a young kid who is only having a crack. It’s now paid off.”
Winning trainer Clayton Douglas and jockey Craig Williams.Credit:Getty
Douglas, a former champion jumps jockey who held a dual licence – and only prepared his first winner, Barocha, two years ago in the middle of COVID in country Sale – has no idea how big he wants to become.
As big as Chris Waller? As big as Ciaron Maher?
“I really don’t know – we’ll see what happens,” Douglas said. “I just know there will be a good party tonight.”
Douglas’ partner, Lydia Rigg-Floyd, who works for Lindsey Smith’s stable in Warrnambool – and strapped Trap For Fools when he won the group 1 Mackinnon Stakes in 2018 – could not be prouder of the trainer she has only known for just under a year.
“To do this so early in his career, he’s worked so hard, I couldn’t be happier for him,” Rigg-Floyd said.
“After today everyone will know him. It’s the best thing to happen to him and his stable moving forward.
“I’ve only known him just under a year, but since knowing him, and seeing how far he has come, and the passion he puts into his training, he’s been rewarded with a win like this.”
Douglas is barely recognised in the racing game and was even turned away by security at Caulfield last Saturday when he had forgotten his trainer’s badge.
He told the Herald before the race how he was well aware he was taking on some of the country’s biggest trainers but had always backed his ability.
“If people didn’t know me, they will now,” Douglas told the Herald on Friday.
“At the furlong I thought, ‘geez he’s going to run a big race’, and it was amazing to see him hit the line the way he did,” Douglas added.
Jockey Craig Williams is determined to stick with Giga Kick – you have to wonder what price the pair start back against the three-year-olds in the Coolmore Stud Stakes in a fortnight – and said of Douglas: “You talk about how young of a trainer he is, but he’s well before his time. I’m just lucky to have been part of the ride.”
Douglas wanted to be an AFL player. His best mate, Jake Aarts, plays for Richmond. Weighing 61kg, he still rides all his horses’ work, including Giga Kick who was flying during the week.
Giga Kick has an enormous future. So does his trainer.
