Giga Kick has provided former picnic turned jumps jockey Clayton Douglas with his first Group race win as trainer taking out the Vain Stakes at Caulfield.
Victory in the Group 3 1100m dash for three-year-olds has kept Giga Kick unbeaten record intact after he scored on debut at Sale in February before a first-up win at Flemington last month.
Ridden by Craig Williams, Giga Kick ($4) got up in the final stages to defeat the $3.10 favourite Alpha One by a long-head with Millane ($9) a further 2-¼ lengths off third.
Douglas who won a number of feature races over jumps, including two Warrnambool Grand Annual Steeplechases, admitted there was plenty of nerves before Giga Kick hit the track on Saturday.
He said it was thrilling to see the gelding let rip from the second half of the field and provide him with his most important win as a trainer.
“I have to thank Jonathan Munz and the team for being gifted this horse and being able to nurture him through,” Douglas said.
“Seeing him let rip like that, I think we’ve got a serious horse on our hands.
“I didn’t think they went that quick and I was a little worried when he was three pairs back.
“He’s such a good jockey Craig. He just kept him balanced and when he asked him for the ultimate effort, he still had plenty left.”
Even though Giga Kick was second-up following a break, Douglas said there was still plenty of improvement to come from the gelding.
“He’s still an immature type. You could see that in the yard,” Douglas said.
“He hasn’t come in the coat, so he’s still got some nice improvement to come.
“He’s a lovely horse and has a bright future.”
Douglas said he would speak with his uncle ‘Rocket’, the racing manager for Munz, about plans for the three-year-old, but said there was a possibility the gelding may return to Caulfield on August 27 for the Group 3 McNeil Stakes (1200m).
Giga Kick is entered for the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) in October but is likely to be kept to shorter trips this campaign.