Simon Wells has strapped his fair share of horses, Group 1 winners Pippie and Ferlax included, but Saturday will present a new experience.
Clayton Douglas’s foreman will be responsible for stable star Giga Kick when he resumes in the $300,000 Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1000m) at The Valley.
Wells has been called up with the star sprinter’s regular strapper Elysia Dalglish taking a back seat while pregnant and his call-up could not have come on a more appropriate day.
Giga Kick is a member of a family synonymous with Jonathan Munz’s Pinecliff Racing, which also includes Rekindled Interest, who was a winner of Saturday’s main event, the Feehan Stakes.
Wells strapped Rekindled Interest, who was trained by Jim Conlan, when he defeated Alcopop and Whobegotyou to win the 1600-metre Group 2 in 2011.
“I’d just joined Jimmy and was fortunate enough that he ended up on my team of horses to take to the races that preparation,” Wells said of Rekindled Interest.
“It’s funny how it all works out. I’ve been given the keys (to Giga Kick) for this week and I think one of the other girls will when he goes up to Sydney.
“We’re just sharing it around, which will be good.”
Giga Kick is by Scissor Kick out of Rekindled Applause who, like Rekindled Interest, is out of the Rainbow Quest mare Rekindled Affair.
The Feehan Stakes was one of two Group 2 wins at The Valley for Rekindled Interest, who also won a Moonee Valley Vase (2040m).
The son of Redoute’s Choice was unlucky not to also have a Cox Plate win on his resume, having finished third in the 2011 edition won by Pinker Pinker, while he also finished fifth as favourite in the 2010 Victoria Derby (2500m).
It is a contrasting racing profile to Giga Kick, who has claims on being Australia’s best sprinter thanks to 10 starts for seven wins, including the rich The Everest (1200m) and the Doomben 10,000 (1200m) and All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Group 1 level.
They might be different racehorses, but they share one similar trait in particular according to Wells.
“Their temperament is nearly identical, they’re both laid-back and casual around the stables,” Wells said.
“That’s how Rekindled Interest was. He’d come to life on raceday, but at home he was extremely quiet and easy to handle.”
That attribute no doubt helped Rekindled Interest beat his best from 1600m to 2040m, whereas Giga Kick and most of his siblings specialise in sprint races.
Of Rekindled Applause’s nine to race, six are winners but only one – Redoute’s Choice gelding Shuffle Up – has won beyond 1400m.
Rekindled Applause’s half-brother Porticcio did win up to 3600m in France, though, which gives the Douglas stable confidence Giga Kick will not have any issue with the 1500m of the $10 million Golden Eagle, which is his goal post The Everest.
“His temperament gives Clayton every confidence that it shouldn’t be a problem,” Wells said.
“Obviously, until they do it you don’t know, but the way he goes about everything we don’t think it will be an issue and he’ll be fine.”
Following the McEwen, Giga Kick will head to Sydney for the $1 million Group 2 Premiere Stakes (1200m) on September 30 before the $20 million The Everest on October 14.
