Striking chestnut gelding Giga Kick extended his unbeaten run to three when running down the speedball Alpha One in Saturday's $200,000 Group III Stow Storage Solutions Vain Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield.
Gotcha! - Giga Kick edges out Alpha One (image Grant Courtney)
Ridden by Craig Williams, the 3yo son of Scissor Kick had five lengths to make up on Alpha One rounding the home. He knuckled down to his task to edge Alpha One (Super One) by a long-head with a further two and a quarter lengths back to Mullane (Zoustar), who finished powerfully from the tale of the field.
A dominant winner of his first two starts at Sale and Flemington, Giga Kick credited his trainer Clayton Douglas with his first stakes winner.
"There were a lot of nerves today, and I'd like to thank (owner) Jonathon (Munz) and the team," Douglas said.
"Seeing him rip like that, I think we have a serious horse on our hands.
"I didn't think they went all that quickly. I was a little worried about being three pairs back, one off. He is such a good jockey, Craig just kept him balanced, and when he asked for the ultimate effort, he still had plenty left in the straight.
Giga Kick always catches the eye in the paddock (image Grant Courtney)
"I think the second horse is very good, so it might be a good form race.
"We will get him home and have a look at him. He is still an immature type. He hasn't come in the coat completely, so there is nice improvement.
"I will get over today. I think I need a beer to be honest. I will speak to 'Rocket' (Douglas) and Jonathon (Munz) (about future plans)."
Giga Kick was bred by Munz's GSA Bloodstock, which also bred his sire Scissor Kick.
He is the sixth winner for the imported Royal Applause mare Rekindled Applause (GB), who arrived in Australia alongside his mother Rekindled Affair (Rainbow Quest).
Rekindled Affair (IRE) left two stakes-winners before her importation. Her first foal in Australia was hugely talented Rekindled Interest (Redoute's Choice), who won the Group II MVRC Dato' Tan Chin Nam Stakes and Group II AAMI Vase and was second in the ATC George Ryder Stakes and third in the MVRC WS Cox Plate.
Scissor Kick (image Mark Smith)
Rekindled Applause (GB) was stakes-placed four times in Italy.
Her six winners include the stakes-placed Rekindled Power and Shuffle Up, and her daughter Lago Ovation (Encosta de Lago) is the dam of Yulong Stud's Group 1 MRC CF Orr Stakes winner Alabama Express.
Rekindled Applause (GB) has a weanling colt by Pariah.
Giga Kick is the second stakes winner for Scissor Kick (Redoute's Choice) who stood at Arrowfield Stud for four seasons. He shuttled to Haras d'Etreham in France and did not return to Australia after covering 29 mares in 2019.
