Giga Kick wins Danehill Stakes by the barest of margins
Giga Kick and Craig Williams have held on by the barest of margins to take out the Group 2 Danehill Stakes over 1100m down the Flemington straight.
Giga Kick has now taken his unbeaten start to his young career to four straight with a win over Buenos Noches and Cannonball.
Doull set a very good speed out in front, as the whole field crossed over to the inside running rail in the second straight-race of the day, followed by Cannonball, Swiss Exile and Giga Kick.
Craig Williams looked to be under pressure from Buenos Noches from the 300m mark all the way until the finish line, however, he got every little bit out of the $1.95 favourite to win by a nostril on the line.
2022 Danehill Stakes Replay
This win is Clayton Douglas’ second Group win of his career and his first Group 2 victory with his stable star, Giga Kick.
“Yeah it’s great, what a horse. Six weeks between runs, he was probably feeling it late in that contest.” Clayton Douglas replied when asked how good it is to win the Danehill Stakes.
“Like Jayne (Ivil) said in the yard, he’s just a completely different horse now and I think he’s got nice improvement to come, he’s still big enough and got plenty left in the tank.
“We’ll see how he pulls up, but I’m really happy with how he is and it was good to get the job done today.” Douglas explained confidently that Giga Kick will race in the Coolmore Stud Stakes on Derby Day.
Craig Williams recorded his first win on this talented gelding and also recorded his 79th Group 2 victory.
“Full credit goes to his trainer. Great young man as a person, in general, but what a great horse man, got an amazing story in racing.” Craig Williams was full of admiration for Clayton Douglas after the race.
“We’ll have a de-brief later, but there’s a lot that we and I will learn out of today with this horse, the way that he is developing and he is really, apart from being undefeated and winning today and off to the Coolmore, he is a really exciting horse.”
Giga Kick is now $6 with online bookmakers in the Coolmore Stud Stakes market, where he looks a very good chance to extend his unbeaten start to his career.