Giga Kick won’t be taking his talents to Perth this summer, with owner Jonathan Munz confirming the superstar sprinter will bypass Western Australia’s major carnival in favour of a longer break and a targeted Melbourne autumn campaign.
Reports earlier this week suggested Clayton Douglas’ stable star was locked in for a Perth trip, but Munz clarified that no commitment had ever been made. A final decision was always scheduled for Friday and, even if Giga Kick had travelled, he would have contested only the Winterbottom, not both Ascot features.
The triple Group 1 hero and 2022 Everest champion had been an early favourite for both the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes on November 29 and the $1.5 million Gold Rush two weeks later.
His explosive Champions Sprint victory at Flemington had sparked strong expectations he would be the headline act of Ascot’s festival.
Munz, however, says the gelding has earned a rest after a taxing spring and a heavy-track slog at Flemington.
“There’s absolutely nothing wrong with him,” Munz told Racenet. “But he had a very tough run in the Champions Sprint on a heavy nine. We’ve decided to give him more time in the paddock and aim to have him first-up in the Lightning Stakes next year.”
Giga Kick’s absence reshapes the Winterbottom landscape, easing the path for Bjorn Baker’s crowd favourite Overpass as he chases a remarkable third win in the race. Local hero Jokers Grin, the Bernie Miller-trained Quokka winner, also looms large after a sparkling first-up victory and is strongly fancied ahead of Saturday’s Group 3 Colonel Reeves Stakes.
