"Sometimes it's the horse with the best story that wins."
Those were the apt words of winning slot holder James Harron Oct. 15 in the aftermath of a dramatic running of the Everest, in which Giga Kick, a horse three days short of his third birthday, and trained by 27-year-old Clayton Douglas, landed the richest race in the world on turf in front of a raucous record crowd of 46,221 at Randwick.
In a furious race to the summit, the unbeaten Giga Kick emerged from the abyss to put his outcast sire Scissor Kick up in lights on Sydney racing's biggest stage, downing the proclaimed 'world's best sprinter' Nature Strip to scoop the lion's share of the monstrous $15 million up for grabs.
Former jumps jockey Douglas, who only began his training career in August 2020, has been thrown into the spotlight by the unheralded gelding, but the Mornington-based handler said he was unwavering in his confidence leading into the race, which presented a windfall for his stable, slot holder James Harron and owner-breeder Jonathan Munz, who had previously knocked back lucrative offers from Hong Kong for the chestnut.
"I had a lot of confidence in this horse. He's a really good horse, he's a superstar. He probably had the 'potters', you know, (those that said he was a) 3-year-old and probably wasn't good enough, but I had a lot of faith in him," Douglas said. "He's such a professional and you can see today, with the 53 kilos when ridden like that, he's electric.
"It's a bit of a whirlwind, but he wasn't in the race to make the numbers up and I had a lot of faith in him. He's a star."
As expected, it was the veteran Eduardo, contesting his third Everest, that heltered to the front of proceedings from barrier nine, with his great nemesis and $1.90 favorite Nature Strip, the thunderous winner at Royal Ascot in June, joining him from the outside barrier.
But, in shades of the 2020 running, the early pace took its toll, as the Joe Pride-trained Eduardo faded to finish second-last, while Nature Strip—travelling to the 1000-metre mark looking the likely winner out in front—was swallowed up by the on-rushing Private Eye before Giga Kick, who covered the early stages towards the rear of the 12-runner field, powered through for a half-length victory.
Proven Thoroughbreds' last-start Gilgai Stakes (G2) winner Private Eye claimed second, with Mazu shooting for a third win in the race for syndicators Triple Crown, pipped a tiring Nature Strip to third, a length from the winner.
Melbourne-based rider Craig Williams opted for the Everest mount on Giga Kick over a start in the Caulfield Cup (G1), a decision that in the space of one minute and nine seconds was duly justified.
Williams, a veteran of 68 group 1 wins, was full of praise for rookie trainer Douglas.
"Clayton Douglas, you talk about how young of a trainer he is, but he's well before his time," he said. "I'm just lucky to have been part of the ride. My team around me, my family, thank you for everything throughout the years. "This is a really big thrill. In the inaugural running of it five years ago I finished second on Vega Magic and I thought we had unfinished business."
Giga Kick was making just his fifth start in yesterday's showpiece, arriving off a last-start and last-gasp victory in the HG Tavern Danehill Stakes (G2). He broke his maiden with a four-length win at Sale in February, adding a convincing win at Flemington in July to round out his 2-year-old career.
The horse returned to win the Stow Storage Solutions Vain Stakes (G3) in August and was snapped up by Harron, who is the most successful slot holder in the Everest's short history, having become the first to win the race twice, lifting the trophy in the inaugural running of the race with Redzel.
"Clayton Douglas is having an incredible breakout year as a trainer, at just 27 years of age," Harron said. "I'm just so happy for him and so happy for all our owners who back us into all these wonderful things that we get to enjoy.
"Hats off to everyone for making this race what it is, and that was the most exciting finish to a race I've ever been involved in. It was a difficult year (to select a horse). There were a lot of people avoiding the race because of Nature Strip. I've got a good relationship with Jonathan Munz and his team, and Craig Williams was very bullish that this horse would be a top four chance.
"He had to improve a lot today, but it was in the back of your mind that it could happen. He's only had four starts and won all four."
Having spent four seasons at Arrowfield, producing 198 foals, Scissor Kick remained in France, where he shuttled to Haras d'Etreham, until the 2021 season before being sold to stand in Morocco.
Giga Kick is one of two stakes winners for Scissor Kick, the other being Gold Coast listed winner Dzsenifer.
As was his sire, Scissor Kick, Giga Kick was bred by Munz's GSA Bloodstock with the latter retained to race by the prominent owner. He is the tenth foal out of British-bred mare Rekindled Applause, listed placed in Italy, who has produced stakes placed Rekindled Power and Shut Up, as well as Lago Ovation, the dam of group 1 winner and Yulong sire Alabama Express.
