Clayton Douglas still remembers the last time Giga Kick came to Sydney for the TJ Smith three years ago.
He was the Everest champion from 2022 and had his colours lowered by a flying I Wish I Win on a heavy Randwick track.
“Peter Moody said to me after you were second-up and my bloke was third-up that was the difference,” Douglas recalled.
“I have always remembered that.”
So when he was planning an assault on this year’s TJ Smith, it was always going to be third-up, which is a sweet spot for a magnificent sprinter.
Giga Kick has only got three runs into a preparation three times.
Firstly, for a win in the Danehill Stakes before his Everest win.
Secondly, in his All Aged Stakes victory that followed 2023 TJ, and finally in 2024 Everest, where Bella Nipotina got the better of him in a photo.
“He goes well third-up, in that Everest put in a bad stride about 50m out and lost momentum, I still think it costed him the race,” Douglas said. “As he gets older and more powerful, the runs bring him on.”
Without an untimely stumble, Giga Kick could be perfect third-up. but is still a $8 chance, which looks over the odds given Douglas’ confidence.
“The first-up run, he was ridden out of his comfort zone, but it did its job,” Douglas said. “I have to say, before the Challenge Stakes in the mounting yard, he was a bit above himself, and he just gave them too much start. He broke 32 [seconds] home but couldn’t make up the ground over 1000m on the firm track.”
“It was the run he needed.”
“I think now he is going every bit as good as in the spring before he won the Champions Sprint.”
“We just need to see it on the track, and I think we will on Saturday.”
An on-song Giga Kick has been the measuring stick for Australian sprinters for the past three years, and Zac Purton links with him again after being in the saddle for that TJ defeat.
But Giga Kick isn’t his only Group 1 runner at Randwick on Saturday, with Kaye Jay lining up in the Australian Derby.
“It’s a bit of feather in the cap for me to have a couple of horses in Group 1 at this meeting, and it would be a dream to win a Classic,” Douglas said.
Kaye Jay, who led up the Alister Clark Stakes last time and held on for third, is a $34 outsider in the Derby, and with a lack of speed in the Derby, he will be keeping favourite Observer company up front.
“We thought he was more a SA Derby horse, but he went to the front last time and held on well,” Douglas said. “He will stay the trip and could give some cheek.”
