Moderately bred and plain to the eye, Giga Kick hardly made an overwhelming first impression when he arrived at Clayton Douglas’s stable.
“He was such a little, weedy fellow. He was so quiet, so unassuming,” Douglas said.
“He went through the process of his first prep, he was very narrow-gutted, very immature. He always did a lot of laying down.”
Despite his immaturity, Giga Kick managed to win his first start, albeit in a maiden at Sale, and Douglas immediately sent him for a spell to give him time to furnish.
When the horse returned for his second campaign he had developed significantly, winning his first three starts in Victoria to come from left-field and not only earn a slot in The Everest, but win it.
The weedy little chestnut had turned giant-killer, taking his young trainer on the ride of a lifetime.
But was he just a one-preparation wonder?
“Everyone sat on the fence a bit after the Everest and thought, ‘was it a bit of a fluke?’,” Douglas said.
“He had 53 kilos, it was a really fast-run race, Eduardo took on Nature Strip and we were able to get home over the top of them.
“But for him to come back and do first-up what he did in the Challenge (Stakes), and then to back that up in the T J (Smith) the other day, I don’t think there are any doubts he’s one of the country’s better sprinters.”
Giga Kick ran incredible sectionals first-up when third in the Challenge Stakes after a slow start, then beat all but I Wish I Win on a heavy track in the T J Smith Stakes.
The one box he is yet to tick is that of Group 1 winner and he gets another chance to achieve that in Saturday’s All Aged Stakes at Randwick when he extends to 1400m for the first time.
Douglas is quietly confident the distance won’t be an issue given how strong Giga Kick has been at the end of his races.
“I don’t have too many queries about the 1400,” Douglas said.
“Every time he’s got into a high-pressure 1200-metre race like an Everest and even a race like the other day, he’s been very strong to the line and held his gallop well.”
Giga Kick is a gelding so there is no pressure for him to boost his stud career with a win at racing’s highest level.
But it would complete his sparkling CV and for Douglas, it would deliver a cherished goal.
“Being a young trainer, I know I’ve won an Everest and that’s practically a Group One but just to get that alongside my name, to say I’ve trained a Group One winner, it would be very good,” he said.
Giga Kick is a $2.80 favourite but he will have to overcome a typically strong All Aged Stakes field that includes last year’s winner Cascadian, Japanese raider Ho O Amazon and established performers Zaaki, Lost And Running, Private Eye, Mazu and Roch ‘N’ Horse.
All being well after Saturday, Douglas confirmed he hoped to take Giga Kick to Brisbane for the Doomben 10,000.