It was a close run affair; however, Giga Kick kept his record at a perfect four for four in the Group II HQ Tavern Danehill Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Ridden by Craig Williams for Clayton Douglas, the son of Scissor Kick clung to a slowly reducing nose victory over the Supido colt Buenos Noches with the Capitalist colt Cannonball a further one and a half lengths back in third.
Douglas said the unbeaten gelding was feeling the pinch in the last bit.
“What a horse. He was probably feeling it late with six weeks between runs, but it was a great effort,” Douglas said.
“He’s just a completely different horse now. He’s done so well and I think he’s got nice improvement to come. He’s still big enough and still got plenty in the tank.
“We’ll just see how he pulls up, but I’m really happy with how he is, and it was good to get the job done today.
“He was probably asked to go early, and it was a good run, in a good solid-run race. I think they were only half a second outside the class record - so he’s a good horse.
“He’s only going to be better in the autumn, but we’ve got a serious horse for the spring anyway.”
Coming off a win in the Group III Vain Stakes at Caulfield on August 13, Giga Kick has banked $393,200 for his owner/breeder Jonathon Munz.
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.
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 yearling colt by Pariah.
Scissor Kick (Redoute's Choice) 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.
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