Talk about the vagaries of breeding – the talk of the town is a horse that was entered and withdrawn from a Scone yearling sale, by a sire unwanted back in Australia and out of a 21yo mare who for the best part of her life had been courted exclusively by champion sires.
The Giga Kick story is amazing. His win in Saturday’s $15,000,000 The TAB Everest at Randwick has vaulted Scissor Kick to a $3,000,000 lead for the champion sir title.
A brother to Listed Lord Stakes winner Sharkbite, 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.
It appears that Scissor Kick was not part of Haras d'Etreham’s roster in 2022 and is believed to be in Tunisia.
The elegant son of Redoute’s Choice was a 3-time stakes winner highlighted by the Group III ATC Up And Coming Stakes. He was also very brave. No better example of this than when he separated Hallowed Crown and Shooting To Win in the Group 1 Golden Rose after a torrid run.
Raised at Bhima Stud, Giga Kick was bred by Jonathon Munz’s GSA Bloodstock, which also bred Scissor Kick.
He is the tenth foal of the imported Royal Applause mare Rekindled Applause (GB), who arrived in Australia in 2006 alongside her dam Rekindled Affair (Rainbow Quest).
Let it not be said Rekindled Applause (GB) wasn’t given every chance to succeed. She had foals by Encosta De Lago, Flying Spur, Exceed And Excel and Redoute’s Choice (x5), all have an Australian sires title.
A half-sister to the dam of Hong Kong superstar Designs On Rome, 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.
The eleventh foal of Rekindled Applause (GB) has a weanling colt by Pariah.
Giga Kick’s year older sister Miss Gaga made her racetrack debut in a 900m maiden at Murray Bridge in June. The daughter of Scissor Kick clocked in sixth of 11, seven lengths behind the winner.
Funny old game.
