Giga Kick ticking all the boxes
Trainer Clayton Douglas says he is in no hurry to see Giga Kick back at the racetrack despite the gelding being back in work for nearly a month.
Giga Kick has been off the scene since finishing third to Imperatriz in the Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley last September.
The 2022 Everest winner suffered a hip injury in that contest which ruled him out of last year’s spring carnival and has ended his hopes of racing in the autumn.
“It was a very a unique injury, but I’m glad we found it,” Douglas said.
“Hopefully he’s fine under full stress, but we won’t know until we try him.”
Douglas doubts Giga Kick will be ready to race during the Queensland Winter Carnival and is preferring to look ahead to the Melbourne and Sydney Spring Carnivals.
But the trainer has not ruled out taking advantage of the warmer weather in Queensland as he prepares Giga Kick for his racetrack return.
“He’s been back at my place for nearly a month now,” Douglas said.
“He’s been on the treadmill and the water walker, just doing a bit of conditioning work.
“We’ve obviously missed the boat with the T J Smith and all the autumn stuff, and whether we go to Brisbane, I don’t feel we will.
“He’ll have a few trials and we’ll get him to a certain stage and the spring will be our focus, but how I get there, I haven’t worked out what he does.
“Maybe we could give him a run in the Sir John Monash at Caulfield in July. It’s 1100 metres, weight-for-age, just as a bit of tune-up before the spring.
“There are all those sorts of options, but I’m just happy to get him back into work.
“I’m not going to worry about the last 12 months, I’ll just look forward with him.
“At the moment he’s ticking all the boxes, so hopefully he keeps going that way.”
More Racing News
Vein Girl impresses in rich Magic Millions The Debut win
Vein Girl has put herself in contention for next month’s $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic with a strong win on debut under lights at the Gold Coast’s first night meeting. The Chris and Corey Munce-trained Vein Girl was sent out the $3.50 favourite with betting sites in Friday night’s $250,000...
Pallaton races into 2025 Golden Slipper contention
Pallaton has stamped himself as a two-year-old colt to watch heading into 2025 with an impressive debut win at Randwick. Trained by Michael Freedman and ridden by Tommy Berry, Pallaton raced to a 2-3/4-length victory in Saturday’s Shinzo @ Coolmore Plate (1000m) and firmed to be among the early favourites in Golden Slipper...
Arriving Home set to target the Magic Millions Guineas 2025
Trainer Bjorn Baker would love to get lightly raced filly Arriving Home into the Magic Millions Guineas next month after the three-year-old remained unbeaten with a tough win at Randwick. Stepping up from a midweek city maiden win at Warwick Farm on debut earlier this month into Saturday’s Petaluma Handicap (1300m) – a...
Here To Shock gives Lindsay Park quinella in The Supernova
Ben, Will & Jd Hayes had the numbers two and three seed to knock off race-favourite Nadal in Saturday’s $1 million The Supernova (1400m) at Pakenham and did just that, with Here To Shock, ridden by Daniel Stackhouse, edging stablemate Arkansaw Kid in a thrilling stable quinella. Here To Shock ($4.60) trailed a strong...
Goldman digs deep in the Pakenham Cup 2024
One time Melbourne Cup favourite, Goldman has notched up his fourth win in Australia, leading throughout to take the Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) under Beau Mertens. Jumping an $8.50 chance, Goldman’s staying prowess was on show as he kicked back to deny Grand Pierro ($19) by a long head, with $3.30 betting site...
The Kings horse Gilded Water wins at Randwick
Imported stayer Gilded Water has made it back-to-back victories in Australia and has given his owner, His Majesty King Charles III, a winner at Royal Randwick. The King’s racing manager John Warren was on track at Randwick on Saturday as the Ciaron Maher-trained Gilded Water raced to a convincing victory in the...
Kevin Daffy happy to wait with Oh Too Good ahead of VOBIS Gold Bullion
Trainer Kevin Daffy says there is still plenty of time to chase the big league with his lightly-raced mare Oh Too Good. A winner of four of her seven starts with three runner-up finishes as well, Oh Too Hard runs in the VOBIS Gold Bullion (1400m) at Pakenham on Saturday. Daffy was sounded...
Bedggood chases rich The Supernova prize
Two rising nine-year-olds, both resuming, will give Gavin Bedggood a potential shot at his biggest payday as a trainer. A former jockey, Bedggood has been plying his trade as a trainer since 2017 and during the recent Melbourne Spring Carnival prepared Mornington Glory to land his first Group 1 success. Just Folk and Windstorm, both...
Collett hoping for Dream Brisbane raid in BJ McLachlan Stakes and Magic Millions Falvelon
A pair of promising two-year-olds from the Ciaron Maher stable have lured top Sydney hoop Jason Collett to Queensland for back-to-back meetings this weekend. Collett is heading north to partner filly Life After Love in the $250,000 Magic Millions The Debut (1000m) at the Gold Coast on Friday night and her Maher-trained stablemate...
Theodore aims to keep strike-rate going in Christmas Cup at Murray Bridge
Trainer Stephen Theodore is looking to Divine Fire keeping his impressive strike-rate going when she shoots for a winning hat-trick on Saturday. After victories at Morphettville and Gawler, Divine Fire runs in the Christmas Cup (1600m) at Murray Bridge with Jacob Opperman in the saddle. Since returning to training ranks at the start of...