Giga Kick is Good to go
Michael Lee
On weights and measures alone, Giga Kick should street his 12 rivals in the A$1 million (S$833,000) Group 1 The Goodwood (1,200m) at Morphettville on May 10.
With a top rating of 116, and Charm Stone the next best on 108, he should be the top-weight and give 4kg or more to the rest.
But The Goodwood is a set-weights race where the handicapper sifts through performances in the last two years.
As awesome as his second at his penultimate start in the 2024 The Everest (1,200m) was, the lightly raced chestnut has not won since the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1,200m) in May 2023, when his rating peaked to 117.
The Scissor Kick five-year-old's next five starts have not been without merit.
Trainer Clayton Douglas' seven-time winner never finished worse than three lengths off, with his head-second to Bella Nipotina in The Everest prompting the handicapper to shave only one point off his rating.
But six months have elapsed since his last outing - a 2.4-length seventh in the Group 1 Champions Sprint (1,200m) at Flemington on Nov 9.
The 2022 Everest winner's rustiness could offset the 55kg (Mark Zahra will ride him ½kg over), but three solid barrier trials have topped him off nicely.
Gate 12 is also tricky, but Morphettville's wide straight gives horses ample time to find room.
On class, Giga Kick should win, but do not ignore the in-form Reserve Bank, last year's runner-up Stretan Angel and last-start Group 1 Robert Sangster (1,200m) winner Charm Stone.
manyan@sph.com.sg
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