Photo: Bruno Cannatelli
Everest winner stretches legs on first attempt to prepare
The Giga Kick came in second behind Coolangatta in Monday morning’s Cranbourne test, but gelding coach Clayton Douglas is delighted with his condition as he prepares to return to racing.
Mount Everest champion underdog winner Moir Stakes two distances in a starry test witness golden eagle I Wish I Win winner goes home in third place.
The 800m workout, completed in 46.08 seconds, was the Giga Kick’s first try or jump out of the prep and pleased both Douglas and regular racer Craig Williams.
“I’m really happy, it’s obviously his first time back and Craig is really pleased with the way he’s tested, so we’re really pleased,” Douglas told RSN927.
The test is Giga Kick’s first public appearance since he placed fifth in 3/4 of his length in Group 1 of the Championship Sprint (1200m) in Flemington on November 5, here was his first defeat after the last five wins to start his career.
Scissor Kick’s three-year-old son will have another test before resuming competition $500,000 Group 2 Challenge Share (1000 million) at Randwick on March 4th.
It will then be converted to $3 million TJ Smith Group 1 Share (1200 million) in Randwick on April 1, this was his only other time locked in the running.
“At this stage, they are two races, there are still some potential options after that, but I just want to get through those two races and then we’ll work it out,” said Douglas, who is based in London. Mornington said.
“He always had well spaced runs in the early stages of his prep and it was wise to have him run first at 1000th and then to TJ a month.
“It was a good time for me. I could take him home, bring him back, give him a bit of work and then send him back to TJ.
Giga Kick, Coolangatta and I Wish I Win are just three of the big names operating at Cranbourne.
Melbourne Cup The Golden Ride winner had a second attempt, coming home in second place, only three-quarters of the way behind his stablemate Persan, in the 1550m trial starting the set.
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