Racing
Giga Kick bounces back in Schillaci
One-time The Everest champion back to the winner’s list at Caulfield
Giga Kick is official back.
The horse who once vied for recognition as Australia's best sprinter tasted victory for the first time in almost two-and-a-half years in Saturday's $300,000 Group 2 Schillaci Stakes at Caulfield.
Just under three years shy of his historic win in The Everest, Clayton Douglas's stable star swept over the top of his rivals in the 1100-metre event and score a popular win.
His eighth career win was his first since taking the Doomben 10,000 on May 13, 2023, and although beaten only seven times in between, he had been questioned as a top-line force, which made the victory so sweet for Douglas.
"It's a relief, to be honest…I'm going to get emotional," the Mornington trainer said.
"It's good to have him back. I'm really happy.
"He's been a lot of hard work. We've copped a lot of flack for this horse for bits and pieces, and they all said he was fat and not ready first-up and all that sort of stuff, but good horses do good things."
The son of Scissor Kick, who started $7, lifted his earnings beyond $13 million with his last-to-first win over heavily-backed $2.80 favourite Tropicus, who finished three-quarters-of-a-length clear of third-placed Niance ($4.40).
The victory came a week out from the running of the race that announced Giga Kick's arrival as a star and, with one spot still available in next Saturday's $20 million The Everest, and Douglas is open to at least chatting to slot-holders Yulong.
"We'll have a chat anyway," Douglas said.
"He's just a good horse. You've got to remember, I think he had $4 million more than the whole field put together, that's what he's done in his career, so to think that he was a 7/1 chance in a race like that, as easy a race as he's seen, and it was good to see him blow them away.
"Give me a call, surely they know my number."
Giga Kick was narrowly beaten by Bella Nipotina when second in last year's The Everest and was promoted to the $26 line in betting on this year's event, which is dominated by Hong Kong superstar Ka Ying Rising ($1.60).
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