by Michael Wrona|05.11.2023|5:15pm

Giga Kick, Australia’s newest sprint sensation

Australia’s newest sprint sensation, Giga Kick, headlines this Friday night’s G1 “Doomben 10,000,” as the country’s racing spotlight shines on my hometown of Brisbane. With a subtropical climate similar to Florida’s, Brisbane annually attracts top stables from Sydney and Melbourne as the weather cools (in the southern hemisphere, they head north for the winter). Brisbane, Australia’s third-largest city and capital of the north-eastern state of Queensland, will play host to 24 Graded Stakes (including eight Group 1 races) across the next seven weeks. The “10,000” is the eighth on a nine-race card at Doomben that kicks off at 9:48 p.m. ET / 6:48 p.m. PT.

Giga Kick was a headline horse from his eye-catching debut win early in 2022. He remained unbeaten through G3 and G2 wins at his third and fourth starts in Melbourne, before going 5-for-5 with a scintillating performance last October in The Everest. Giga Kick’s triumph in the world’s richest turf race came in his first Sydney (clockwise) appearance – and three days prior to his actual third birthday! His accomplishments at such a young age mirror those of his trainer, Clayton Douglas, a 27-year-old former champion jumps jockey (who also won “flat” races at Group 2 and 3 level).

The young horse has thrust the young trainer into the national spotlight, with Douglas admitting, “I’m just embracing the moment. I don’t know if I’ll ever get my hands on another one like him.” Giga Kick most recently won his first start at seven furlongs, giving him wins racing clockwise, counter-clockwise and on a straight course; from five to seven furlongs; on wet and firm surfaces – all in fewer than 10 career starts! “He is just so adaptable with the way he travels, the way he eats, and the way he copes with everything,” said Douglas, who rides Giga Kick in trackwork. “I am very happy with where the horse is at, physically and mentally.”

Both Giga Kick (3-5 favorite) and second wagering choice, Aft Cabin (9-2) are in the latter stages of their 3-year-old seasons. Godolphin’s Aft Cabin has produced a couple of jaw-dropping performances but is not yet the complete package, with jockey James McDonald lamenting his tardy gate manners: “He comes out a tad slow and it puts him too far back, out of position against these good sprinters.” Mazu (8-1) hasn’t won since capturing last year’s Doomben 10,000 (six furlongs) but has minor placings in some of Australia’s top sprint races, The Everest and T.J. Smith Stakes. However, he’s unlikely to have his preferred soft footing.

Interestingly, Sydney-based jockey Sam Clipperton, who has ridden Mazu in 14 of the horse’s 18 career starts, has opted not to ride in Brisbane this weekend. Clipperton’s preference is the pair of Thursday-Friday cards at Scone, which is located about 150 miles north of Sydney in the Hunter Valley – famous as one of Australia’s premium wine and Thoroughbred breeding regions. Given that Clipperton is turning down the mount on the 3^rd wagering choice in a million-dollar feature, he is clearly worth following at the Scone races where no purse exceeds $200,000. Friday night’s card at Scone is afforded “stand alone” status, whereby no major Sydney track operates on the same day. Sky Racing World will broadcast the Thursday and Friday night programs from Scone.

Doomben’s undercard on Friday night includes the G3 Rough Habit Plate (Race 7 at 1 1/4 miles), a key prep for the May 26, G1 Queensland Derby at 1 1/2 miles. Kovalica (even money) created a huge impression in his latest win, overcoming a tough trip to go 5-for-7. The Brisbane “Winter Carnival,” at the end of the southern hemisphere racing season, has repeatedly proven a launching pad for future greatness. The Chris Waller-trainee has all the earmarks of a serious horse later in the year.

In a similar vein, Appin Girl is a somewhat-green but extremely likable 2-year-old filly, who takes a 2-for-2 record into the G2 Champagne Classic (Race 5 at six furlongs). Appin Girl is still learning her craft but could progress through a seven-furlong G2 race on May 26 to a season-ending G1 at a mile on June 9.

Every year, Brisbane can prove a surprise launching pad for dreams and aspirations – it certainly did for a teenaged, aspiring race caller who called a 19-horse field among a full card at Doomben in 1985. My efforts drew praise on national television from Australia’s best-known race caller, John Tapp. Five years later, “Tappy” and I were seated next to each other on a jumbo jet bound for Hollywood Park. Never underestimate the potential of Doomben and Brisbane racing!

The Doomben card will be broadcast live on FanDuel TV this Friday night (First Post: 9:48 p.m. ET / 6:48 p.m. PT) alongside cards from Scone, Kembla Grange and Belmont. All races will be live-streamed in HD on the new Sky Racing World App, skyracingworld.com and major ADW platforms such as TVG, TwinSpires, Xpressbet, NYRABets, WatchandWager, HPIbet, FanDuel and AmWager. Wagering is also available via these ADW platforms. Fans can get free access to live-streaming, past performances, and expert picks on all races at skyracingworld.com.

A native of Brisbane, Australia, Michael Wrona has called races in six countries. Michael’s vast U.S. experience includes; race calling at Los Alamitos, Hollywood Park, Arlington and Santa Anita, calling the 2000 Preakness on a national radio network and the 2016 Breeders’ Cup on the International simulcast network. Michael also performed a race call voiceover for a Seinfeld episode called The Subway.