Giga Kick primed for 2024 The Everest … but which jockey will get the ride?

As the superstar sprinter nears a much-awaited comeback, trainer Clayton Douglas says a host of leading jockeys are throwing their hats in the ring for the prized mount.

Trainer Clayton Douglas with his 2022 The Everest winner Giga Kick. Picture: David Geraghty

Giga Kick’s trainer Clayton Douglas admits he is starting to feel “pretty excited” as his superstar sprinter nears a comeback aimed at the $20 million The TAB Everest.

Douglas revealed Giga Kick would barrier trial in Sydney early next month and was likely to have two lead-up runs into The Everest, run at Royal Randwick on October 19.

While a new jockey for the chestnut is yet to be determined, Douglas admitted there were plenty of riders throwing their hats into the ring.

“We haven’t discussed a jockey for Giga Kick yet although we have had plenty of offers,’’ Douglas said.

“There’s a couple of months to worry about that but I’m tipping if we threw the colours into the jockeys’ room there would be a scrum for them.’’

OMG GIGA KICK HAS WON THE EVEREST! 😱@[e-mail]/iwamti2PyI

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) October 15, 2022

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Gia Kick, winner of the 2022 The Everest, hasn’t raced since he was injured when third to Imperatriz in the Group 2 McEwen Stakes at Moonee Valley last September.

Douglas said Giga Kick had been in work for some months and believed the rising five-year-old was “ticking all the boxes” ahead of his long-awaited return to racing.

“Giga Kick is showing me he has improved in himself as a horse, he is mentally much stronger and physically he’s heavier so there is more to work with,’’ Douglas said.

“It’s always in the back of your mind if they are going to come back as good as they were but he’s in great order and I’m starting to get pretty excited about having him back at the races soon.’’

Douglas has shelved plans for a mid-winter return for Giga Kick and is setting his sights on the Group 3 Concorde Stakes (1000m) at Royal Randwick on September 7 as the sprinter’s comeback race.

Clayton Douglas and Giga Kick with the spoils of victory from the 2022 The Everest. Picture: David Caird

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“Giga Kick has been in work for a long time and we were toying with the idea of kicking him off in the Monash Stakes (July 13) but I felt that wasn’t the right move so we backed off him a bit,’’ Douglas said.

“He is just now starting to crank back up in his trackwork and all is looking well with him. He is back doing ‘evens’ and building his fitness.

“If we get to the end of July and we are happy with him, we will look to take him to Sydney to give him a barrier trial at the start of August.

“Whether we give him another trial in Sydney at the end of August before the Concorde we still have to work that out.

“The other option was a race like the Moir Stakes but it is more likely to be in Sydney the same day.’’

GIGA KICK CLAIMS THE DOOMBEN 10,000. ❤️🤍@CWilliamsJockey@c_douglasracingpic.twitter.com/AN6NHy7dHp

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) May 13, 2023

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Giga Kick has firmed into $9 equal second favouritism with Bella Nipotina behind I Wish I Win ($4.50) for The Everest.

Douglas said the betting move was more indicative of Giga Kick’s reputation and his ability to compete at the top level rather than any immediate slot-holder interest.

However, there are at least three slot-holders who are looking closely at Giga Kick and it seems inevitable he will again be selected for the world’s richest turf race.

Douglas said he intended to give Giga Kick two runs before The Everest and had either Group 2 The Shorts (1100m) or Group 2 Premiere Stakes (1200m) in mind after the Concorde.

“Generally speaking, this horse doesn’t take a lot to come to hand so after he barrier trials we will know where he is at and then we will have a fair assessment on what we are doing with him,’’ Douglas said.

Originally published as Giga Kick primed for 2024 The Everest … but which jockey will get the ride?