Star sprinter Giga Kick tuned up at the Caulfield Heath barrier trials on Thursday morning, just over a week out from his spring return.
The Clayton Douglas-trained chestnut was edged out by Tropicus in a 1000m heat and is now bound for Caulfield on October 11 to contest the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes on Caulfield Guineas Day.
“He went really well, he began well, his action looked good, I was very pleased,” Douglas said post-trial.
“Mark (Zahra) gave him a nice report, said he started to feel the pinch the last 50 yards, but he looked to trial nicely.”
Famous for his upset victory in The Everest in 2022 and a narrow defeat in the same race last year, Douglas outlined why the $20 million feature won’t be on the gelding’s program this spring.
“Obviously, The Everest is such a hard program for him,” he said. “We’d try to get him there third-up and after a winter campaign and his last run, he probably performed below par, we just gave him a little bit extra in the paddock.
He’s come back, he seems like he’s moving well, he’s a bit older this time around, but he’s got good condition on him, he’ll improve off this morning’s jumpout and I’m really happy with him.”
Instead, the G1 Champions Sprint at Flemington on November 8 is a likely target for the dual Group 1 winner.
“He’s had a couple of cracks at it and it’s a race he hasn’t been able to win, so we’d like to win it,” Douglas said. “We’ll just see how he goes first-up and then make a call.”
Giga Kick is an $11 chance for the Champions Sprint.
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