The return of Everest winner Giga Kick can’t come quickly enough for jockey Craig Williams, who has foregone rides at a Group 1 race day in Melbourne to partner the three-year-old in the Challenge Stakes in Sydney.
While the top Victorian hoop has also picked up mounts in several other feature races at Randwick, including Argentia in the $600,000 Canterbury Stakes (1300m), Giga Kick is the reason for his visit.
Williams said it was always hard to pass up a showpiece meeting in his hometown but believed Giga Kick was worth it.
“If he becomes the horse we believe he’s going to be, then it’s not a difficult decision in my book,” Williams said .
Giga Kick has won five of his six starts, propelling young trainer Clayton Douglas into the spotlight with his rapid rise, culminating in a barnstorming Everest triumph.
His only defeat came in the VRC Classic at Flemington in November when he finished fifth to Roch ‘N’ Horse, beaten less than a length, a result Williams felt was excellent given the horse was off his game then had a troubled run.
“I felt pre-race he let himself down and then with not the clearest of runs, not galloping straight or at his best in that last race he got beaten three-quarters of a length, so he’s a very exciting horse,” Williams said.
“Clayton is delighted with where he’s at and with his improvement, I’ve felt that in the two pieces of work that I’ve done on him and (now) he has to do the talking for us.”
Given Giga Kick is still so sparingly raced, Williams has no doubt the horse has upside.
He feels the gelding will not only continue to improve, but will stretch out to longer trips, possibly as a far as a mile.
But his focus for now is the Challenge Stakes (1000m) and Giga Kick showing the racing public that his Everest win was no flash in the pan.
“We’re really excited about showing everyone else, in a race, how this horse has come on and where he’s at,” Williams said.
“When I look at him physically, you can see his body mass has turned into muscle mass and he’s not even the finished product yet.
“He loves the Sydney way. He’s had five starts and been beaten once so he’s pretty good most times and most places, down the straight, around a bend, he’s brilliant.
“He’s what every top horse has to be.”