Top sprinter GIGA KICK’s spring campaign got off to a shaky start with a first-up defeat in the Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley as he prepares to defend his $20 million The Everest title on 14 October.
Missing the start by two lengths, GIGA KICK settled in last place in the small field of seven before jockey Craig Williams made a costly mid-race decision. This early move resulted in GIGA KICK providing outstanding Te Akau-owned sprinter IMPERATRIZ with the perfect opportunity to draft into the race and ultimately win in track record time (56.68 seconds).
GIGA KICK’s run came to an end late in the race, finishing 2.6 lengths behind in third place. Williams lamented, stating, “In a perfect world I thought I’ll start sliding into the race, unfortunately, because he’s so good and so competitive, today we lost but we might’ve learned something,” Williams said. “Unfortunately today it cost Giga Kick every chance of winning today’s race.”
After the defeat, GIGA KICK’s odds eased from $3.50 to $4.50 with TAB for The Everest, while Pete Moody-trained I WISH I WIN, who defeated GIGA KICK in the G1 T J Smith during the autumn, is the second-favourite in the market at $5.
