Saturday summary: Giga Kick in for a big spring after Vain success

Cover image courtesy of Bronwen Healy

Giga kicks away to claim the Vain

The Jonathan Munz-owned Giga Kick (Scissor Kick) is in for a big spring campaign after running down a brave Alpha One (Super One) to claim top honours in the G3 Vain S. at Caulfield.

Trained by Clayton Douglas and ridden by Craig Williams, Giga Kick showcased his raw ability in the 1200 metre 3-year-old feature, having over raced in the middle stages of the contest while still spotting Alpha One more than 5l.

On straightening the match fit Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Alpha One looked poised to secure a fourth consecutive victory, however, Giga Kick let down with an electric turn of foot before pulling away over the final 50 metres to score by 0.2l and in turn give his trainer a maiden stakes success.

“To see him let rip like that; I think we have a serious horse on our hands,” Douglas told Racing.com.

“It was a good effort and the second horse (Alpha One) is a very good horse, so I think it will be a pretty good form race for us.”

Douglas was unwilling to outline what awaits the unbeaten Giga Kick despite the G1 Coolmore Stud S. and G1 Caulfield Guineas having proved target races for the vast majority of previous Vain S. winners.

“We will just get him home and have a look at him, we’re going to look after this horse,” he said.

“He’s still an immature type and you can see that in the yard as he hasn’t come on in the coat, which means he still has plenty of improvement to come.”

Williams was delighted by Giga Kick’s will to win over the concluding stages, saying Douglas has 'quite a brilliant’ horse on his hands.

“He (Giga Kick) had the most improvement in him looking at his coat and the way he did it shows he’s still relatively inexperienced,” Williams told Racing.com.

“It was the last little bit that I started to smile because I could just feel his acceleration; I really like the quality of horse he is, and this is only the start of him coming into the spring.”

Bred by GSA Bloodstock Pty Ltd, Giga Kick is out of the Listed-winning Rekindled Applause (GB) (Royal Applause {GB}), making him a half-brother to the dam of G1 CF Orr S. winner turned Yulong stallion Alabama Express.

Giga Kick is also a half-brother to the Group 2-placed Rekindled Power (Redoute's Choice) and the G3 Carbine Club S. runner-up Shuffle Up (Redoute's Choice). Rekindled Applause herself is a half-sister to the dual Group 2-winning, G1 Cox Plate-placed Rekindled Interest (Redoute’s Choice).

Bound For Home lands the knockout blow

Rubick filly Bound For Home, who was previously seen finishing second behind Ghaanati (Deep Impact {Jpn}) at Flemington in June, became the fifth stakes winner for her Swettenham Stud sire after saluting in the G3 Quezette S. at Caulfield.

The Archie Alexander-trained galloper, a rank outsider in the market, was the beneficiary of a perfectly timed Declan Bates ride, with the talented hoop edging off the rails to find clear air in the straight after initially settling back and on the fence.

Once out in the open Bound For Home let down strongly to go home 0.4l the better of classy Godolphin galloper Ojai (Exceed And Excel) with a 1.75l gap back to the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained I’mlovin’ya (Capitalist) in third.

“Being a bit arrogant and silly we thought lets get in there early, it might be a bit of a weak Group 3, and she’s fit, well and we can get in there before the better ones come out,” Alexander told Racing.com.

“But maybe she is one of the better ones."

A $50,000 2021 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale purchase by Alexander Racing and Rogers Bloodstock from the draft of Erinvale Thoroughbreds, Bound For Home is the first foal out of the three-time winning Rothesay mare Homebird.

The Group 2-placed Religify (Choisir) and Shojiki (Redoute’s Choice) feature in the first generation of this family while G1 Hong Kong Sprint hero Silent Witness (El Moxie) and G2 Kewney S. winner Empress Rock (Fastnet Rock) feature in the second generation.

Mr Brightside back with a bang

Lindsay Park's G1 Doncaster H. hero Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) picked up where he left off taking out the G2 PB Lawrence S. on resumption at Caulfield.

Ben Hayes, who trains the gelding in partnership with his younger brother JD was taken by his gallopers first-up performance, saying it was fantastic to see Mr Brightside lengthen out over the concluding stages.

He said the stable will ‘stick to their guns’ and press on towards the G2 Feehan S. at Moonee Valley on September 3.

“Boy he was tough he really knuckled down, hit the line hard and was right in for the fight, which is really exciting going forward as he wasn’t wound up today,” Ben Hayes told Racing.com.

“It’s going to be an interesting preparation, but I would love to see him out to 2000 metres as I think he will be better beyond a mile.”

Craig Williams, who partnered Mr Brightside for the 12th consecutive time, is confident the 5-year-old can go to a new level in the spring and measure up at weight-for-age level.

“The spring is still a month or two away for where his grand finals are and it was a really good kickoff point,” Williams told Racing.com.

“Even today isn’t the deepest end for where he’s going to be competing later, but you just see that maturity and improvement.”

A NZ$22,000 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka May Sale purchase by Phill Cataldo Bloodstock (BAFNZ), Mr Brightside is out of the unraced Tavistock (NZ) mare Lilahjay (NZ).

Lilahjay’s grandam Delia’s Choice (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}) is responsible for G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas winner Foxwood (NZ) (Centaine) G1 Queensland Oaks winner Purple (Commands) features alongside the G1 Thousand Guineas-placed Fuji Dancer (Fuji Kiseki {Jpn}) in the third generation of this pedigree.

Uncommon James runs aways with Regal Roller

Queensland raider Uncommon James (Cable Bay {Ire}) could be G2 Bobbie Lewis Quality bound after extending his winning streak to five by the way of a dominant Listed Regal Roller S. romp at Caulfield.

The Steven O’Dea and Matthew Hoysted-trained gelding was pocketed on straightening but produced a dynamic turn of foot to run away from his rivals inside the final furlong under the urges of Damian Lane.

Hoysted, who along with O’Dea, had previously touted the Listed Chautauqua S. at Moonee Valley on September 3 as a possible next start for the lightly raced Uncommon James, said they may wait for the following weeks Flemington feature instead.

“He couldn’t have been anymore impressive and it was a great ride by Damian (Lane),” Hoysted told Racing.com.

“We know he’s got that dynamic turn of foot and he was really able to show that.

“And the fact he ran away from them like that knowing he’s no where near the ceiling and is only going to improve.”

Bred and retained by Lavin Park Racing and Breeding, Uncommon James is out of the Listed BRC Juanmo S.-placed Jet Spur mare Pickabee, who is a half-sister to the Listed placed Churning (Lonhro).

The G1 Thorndon Mile runner-up Prince Of Passion (NZ) (Castledale {Ire}) and the G2 Let’s Elope S.-placed Bonvicini (Myboycharlie {Ire}) feature in the second generation of this pedigree while the G2 Victory S.-winning, G1 Stradbroke H.-placed Niccanova (Nicconi) features in third generation.

O’Shea sings Zoukerino’s praises

John O’Shea sung the praises of high-priced Snitzel colt Zoukerino after his classy galloper toughed out a tight finish in the Listed The Rosebud S. at Rosehill.

Drawn in barrier three, Zoukerino broke fairly into stride before being pushed along by Brenton Avdulla to settle in third position.

Zoukerino, a 3.3l debut winner remained on the heels of the leader Troach (Epaulette) until Avdulla found an out and asked his mount to extend at the 300-metre mark. Zoukerino duly responded before levelling up alongside his rivals and edging out Godolphin colt Spacewalk (Exosphere) by the narrowest of margins.

“That’s a very, very good performance to do that at your second start in very good company,” O’Shea told Sky Thoroughbred Central.

“He had to overcome a bit of adversity and was so strong to the line and Brenton (Avdulla) has so much confidence in him.”

O’Shea has been rewarded for taking a patient approach with Zoukerino, saying he resisted the temptation of running the 3-year-old during the autumn.

He is yet to map out a spring campaign for Zoukerino and will wait to see how his galloper pulls up before earmarking a feature target.

“He had just a couple of little things that meant we couldn’t get him away to the races any sooner, but he still had a little win at two which is important for his profile,” O'Shea said.

“He just came on so nicely from his (debut) win that I thought we would take the opportunity to see if we could get a little bit of black type early in his career.”

Avdulla has a big opinion of Zoukerino, saying he identified the horse as one he wanted to ride after James McDonald partnered it to a 1l trial victory at Randwick on June 3.

“He’s a good horse,” Avdulla told Sky Thoroughbred Central.

“Today was a hot little race; he had to bully himself out of a position and it got pretty tight there, but he came out the other end of it and I’ve got no doubt there’s plenty of improvement still in him.”

Bred by Milburn Creek Stud and purchased by Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) for $500,000 at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Yearling Sale, the Sheriff Iskander-owned Zoukerino is out of the Listed-winning Hussonet (USA) mare Walk With Attitude, making him a brother to the G3 Zeditave S.-placed Spend.

Walk With Attitude herself is out of the Listed-winning Hillfa (Danehill {USA}) and hails from the family of G1 New Zealand Oaks runner-up Contessa Vanessa (NZ) (Bullbars) and G2 Maribyrnong S. runner-up Love Jeddah (Danehill {USA}).

Surefire starts Cups campaign in style

Chris Waller has touted Surefire (GB) (Fastnet Rock) as a potential staying star after the Juddmonte-owned import resumed with an eye-catching 1l victory at Rosehill on Saturday.

The lightly raced gelding, who picked up a Group 3 placing last preparation over 2400 metres before finishing unplaced in the G1 Sydney Cup, has rocketed into G1 Caulfield Cup contention as a result of the first-up 1400-metre romp.

“Obviously, he’s a very talented horse and has a good spring ahead of him; to do it like that first-up over 1400 metres was very good,” Chris Waller told Sky Thoroughbred Central.

“I’d like to see him this preparation at 2400 metres or even a bit further this time and he could be winning some big races.”

James McDonald, who rode Surefire for the first time under race conditions, said the 4-year-old is in for a big spring campaign.

“He let down like the proper horse that he is and he’s in for a pretty good campaign,” McDonald told Sky Thoroughbred Central.

“So, going forward from here he is going to be a nice Cups contender.”

Bred and retained by Juddmonte, Surefire is out of the Listed-winning Sadler’s Wells (USA) mare Modesta (Ire), making him a half-brother to the Group 3-winning Button Down (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and the Group 3-placed Platitude (GB) (Dansili {Ire}) and Model Pupil (GB) (Sinndar {Ire}).

Modesta herself is a half-sister to the dual Group 1-winning Reams Of Verse (USA) (Nureyev {USA}). New Zealand Group 1 winner Two Illicit (NZ) (Jimmy Choux {NZ}) also features in the first generation of this family.

Manzoice announces himself with maiden win

Almanzor (Fr) colt Manzoice (NZ) announced himself as an exciting spring prospect when breaking his maiden status in a BM72 contest at Rosehill.

The Chris Waller-trained 3-year-old, who placed second on debut at Wyong last month, dug deep over the concluding stages of the the 1300-metre event to go home the better of Backrower (Astern) and Major Beel (NZ) (Savabeel) in a tightly contested finished.

Manzoice, the fifth Australian winner and first for the season by young Cambridge Stud stallion Almanzor, holds a nomination for October’s G1 Caulfield Guineas.

A $340,000 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase by Waller Racing and Mulcaster Bloodstock from the draft of Bhima Thoroughbreds, Manzoice is the third foal out of the Group 3-winning Mastercraftsman (Ire) mare Choice (NZ), who is a half-sister to the dam of the Listed-placed Major King (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}).

The G1 New Zealand Derby-placed Raghu (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}) along with John McArdle’s stakes winners Humma Humma (Denman) and Tycoon Humma (Capitalist) feature in the third generation of this pedigree.