Jockey Craig Williams has blamed pilot error for the defeat of Giga Kick in his return run at Moonee Valley.

Sent out a $1.95 favourite with Unibet in the Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1000m) on Saturday, Giga Kick was last of the seven runners to leave the barriers.

Williams allowed Giga Kick to roll forward from the 500m mark and was a length off the leaders turning for home before Imperatriz ($3.90) unleased a powerful burst from the tail to score by 2-½ lengths and in the process taking 0.16 seconds off the previous 1000m track record.

‘It was pilot error,” Williams said.

“He was a little bit slow out and then found himself further back and in a perfect world I would just slide into the race.

“Unfortunately, because he is so good and so competitive, today we lost, but I might have learned something.

“I rode Miss Finland one time before I won the Thousand Guineas and the (Victorian) Oaks on her and I was better for the experience that time.

“Unfortunately, it has cost Giga Kick the chance of winning today’s race.”

Giga Kick’s trainer Clayton Douglas said the gelding would press on towards The Everest (1200m) at Randwick next month.

Douglas said plans remain unchanged with the gelding heading to the Group 2 Premiere Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on September 30 for his next start.

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