Giga Kick has easy Balnarring hit out ahead of The 2025 Goodwood
Clayton Douglas has confirmed Giga Kick will line up in The Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville next Friday after completing his preparation with a quiet 1000m jump-out at Balnarring.
The 2022 Everest winner is set to carry 54.5kg in the Group 1 feature—well below jockey Mark Zahra’s recent minimums—thanks to the set-weights and penalties structure of the race.
“My jockey will have to watch his weight,” Douglas joked on RSN. “He hasn’t won since he was a three-year-old, so he’s well in at the weights.”
Giga Kick missed most of his four-year-old season with injury but has been building steadily this autumn, with three jump-outs including a win over Austmarr and a gallop at Sandown.
“He had a little bowl around at Balnarring this morning. He wasn’t out to do too much,” Douglas said. “We’ve been able to get some nice work into him at home.”
“He had a good stretch of the legs, and I was really happy with how he came through it. He’s on track for next week.”
Giga Kick hasn’t tasted victory since the Doomben 10,000 last May. He returned last spring but was injured in the McEwen Stakes and later ran second in The Everest during a four-start campaign.
Douglas is confident the five-year-old is right back where he needs to be.
“I think he’s as good as he’s ever been and he’s going to take beating,” he said.
More Racing News
Connections eye redemption for On Display in Adelaide feature
The On Display camp is eager to make amends for last year's near-miss while targeting a Stakes placing in Adelaide.Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr have set their sights on the Group 2 Queen Of The South Stakes (1600m) at Morphettville on April 25 for the now four-year-old mare, who...
New Zealand Oaks victor Ohope Wins prepares for Australian Oaks bid
Feedback from star rider James McDonald has lifted spirits in the Chris Waller Racing camp as Ohope Wins seeks to rebound from her latest defeat and secure the Australian Oaks alongside her New Zealand classic win.In her first Australian appearance, she was sent out as a short favourite for the...
Adrian Bott confident Sir Delius can shine versus top rivals in Queen Elizabeth Stakes
Sir Delius's autumn schedule has revolved around one primary target, requiring him to navigate past a pair of top-class mares and a seasoned global contender, but trainer Adrian Bott insists the horse is set to hit top form.Bott is unsure if it will suffice against Autumn Glow, Aeliana and Dubai...
Maher stablemates eye South Australian Derby at Caulfield
Amazake has the South Australian Derby in his sights with a crucial outing planned at Caulfield.The Listed Galilee Series Final (2400m) this Saturday acts as the pathway to the Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m) scheduled for Morphettville on May 2.Ciaron Maher's Dad And Dave and Awesome Artist will line...
Winx's record $10 million filly Quinceanera sidelined from racing permanently
Never to grace the turf, the groundbreaking first progeny of superstar mare Winx – who was front-page news worldwide two years ago at this juncture – has been officially scratched from any race plans.Announcement came Wednesday morning on social media from the Kepitis-owned Woppitt Bloodstock, who had splashed $10 million...
Percy Sykes Stakes offers Screen Icon key opportunity post Slipper
Screen Icon could find silver linings in bypassing the Golden Slipper as she targets the $1 million Percy Sykes Stakes at Randwick.Trainer John Thompson chose not to enter the filly seven days before the big two-year-old race just to guarantee entry, electing to test her luck naturally."I didn't run her...
Randwick resurgence on cards for Splash Back with Brisbane in sight
Although Splash Back joins Sydney's Autumn Carnival belatedly, the $300,000 Sapphire Stakes remains vital to her training regimen.Grahame Begg's charge, sidelined since trailing in the Empire Rose Stakes during Derby Day, begins her push towards Brisbane Group 1 targets in Saturday's 1200m Randwick feature.After more than 20 years based at...
Opening day of Aintree Grand National boasts Jango Baie at the forefront
Jango Baie, who was runner-up in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, will anchor a high-class opening day of the Grand National fixture at Aintree on Thursday.This Nicky Henderson-prepared seven-year-old stands as the heavy favourite for the Racing Welfare Bowl, part of four Grade 1 events on the programme.The gelding seeks its...
Fitness test awaits Campaldino for Sydney Cup entry
Prospective Sydney Cup runner Campaldino requires clearance from a fitness assessment to join the two-mile event at Randwick, after routine vet checks detected cardiac arrhythmia.Co-trainer Adrian Bott mentioned the absence of any such concern post his second place in the Chairman's Handicap (2600m) on Saturday, with the gelding showing no...
Sadler targets Black Type with Merrigold at Caulfield
Trainer John Sadler is on track to seek crucial Black Type for the mare Merrigold during Caulfield action.Having claimed victory in a benchmark 84 event at 1400m on Caulfield's track last Saturday, Sadler has his sights on the Listed Anniversary Vase (1600m) set for Caulfield this Saturday.Sadler mentioned Merrigold is...