James McDonald is set to make an early comeback from a foot injury to replace Craig Williams as the jockey for racing superstar Giga Kick.
Williams, who famously won last year’s The Everest and two Group 1 races on the horse, was let go following a disappointing performance in the recent McEwen Stakes.
The Giga Kick team expressed dissatisfaction with Williams, citing a poorly-judged strategy that exhausted the horse ahead of the prestigious $20 million Everest race.
Medical specialists have cleared McDonald to ride Giga Kick in his next outing, the Premiere Stakes at Randwick on September 30, and he will also steer the sprinter in The Everest.
McDonald, who had no ride for the The Everest 2023 due to the retirement of Nature Strip, is eager to fill the gap.
The switch has caused ripples in betting circles, but Giga Kick remains the favorite to win The Everest despite the recent setback.
