Giga Kick finished second to Coolangatta in a Cranbourne trial on Monday morning, but the gelding’s trainer Clayton Douglas is thrilled with his condition as he edges towards a racing return.
The Everest champion was two lengths behind the Moir Stakes winner in a star-studded trial that saw Golden Eagle winner I Wish I Win steam home into third position.
The 800m workout, which was covered in 46.08 seconds, was Giga Kick’s first trial or jumpout of the preparation and pleased both Douglas and regular rider Craig Williams.
“I’m really happy, that was obviously his first one back and Craig was really happy with how he trialled, so we’re really pleased,” Douglas told RSN927.
The trial was Giga Kick’s first public appearance since his three-quarters-of-a-length fifth placing in the Group 1 Champions Sprint (1200m) at Flemington on November 5, which was his first defeat after five wins on end to start his career.
The three-year-old son of Scissor Kick will have another trial before resuming in the $500,000 Group 2 Challenge Stakes (1000m) at Randwick on March 4.
It will then be on to the $3 million Group 1 T J Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on April 1, which is his only other locked in run for the campaign.
“They’re the two runs at this stage, there’s still a couple of potential options after that, but I just want to get through those two and then we’ll work it out,” Mornington-based Douglas said.
“He’s had his runs pretty well spaced in the early part of the preparations all the time and it works out well-timing wise to give him a run first-up at the 1000 and then go a month to the TJ.
“It’s nice timing for me. I can get him home, get him back, give him a good bit of work and then send him back up for the TJ.”
Giga Kick, Coolangatta and I Wish I Win were just three of the big names that were in action at Cranbourne.
Melbourne Cup winner Gold Trip had his second trial, working home into second placing, just three-quarters-of-a-length behind stablemate Persan, in the 1550m trial that kicked off the set.
