Clayton Douglas admits to being a touch toey ahead of Giga Kick heading to Flemington in what is shaping as potentially the young trainerâs biggest moment.
A former jumps jockey who won two Grand Annual Steeplechases at Warrnambool, Douglas has been training just over two years and has Giga Kick running in the Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1200m) on Saturday for one of Australiaâs big owners Jonathan Munz.
Douglas landed his biggest success as a trainer when Giga Kick took out the Group 3 Vain Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield in August.
A recent jump-out and a gallop on the course proper at Mornington on Tuesday has Douglas confident that Giga Kick is in the right shape to run well on Saturday.
But there will be a couple of sleepless nights in the countdown to Saturday thinking about the race.
âI do get a bit toey about this one,â Douglas said.
âI think heâs pretty good and the market probably suggests that on Saturday. I just trust the process that he is a decent horse, so hopefully weâll see it on Saturday.
âHe was immature when he won on debut at Sale, but heâs continued to develop and has gone the right way all the way through.
âHe looks a lot better in the coat and has strengthened a lot, so Iâm happy with how he is.â
The Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on October 29 is next on the agenda with its $2 million prize money on offer.
Giga Kick is not the only horse Douglas has in training for Munz as he also prepares a two-year-old Pariah filly.
âI canât thank Jonathan enough,â Douglas said.
âHeâs supported me all through my career, even when I was riding for the Freedmanâs in his colours and even in the school holidays when I was a kid I would get down to Pinecliff and work.
âItâs good to think that Iâve got the favourite for him in a Group 2 on Saturday.â
