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By Ray Hickson

There’ll be a few nerves running through trainer Clayton Douglas as his star sprinter Giga Kick makes his long awaited return to racing at Randwick on Saturday.

Clayton Douglas (Pic: Bradley Photos)

It’s not so much because the 2022 TAB Everest champion has to prove himself to a slot holder to gain his chance in the $20 million sprint classic, but all the work that’s gone into getting the gelding back to the track after a freak injury 12 months ago.

Giga Kick tore muscle off his hip bone in the McEwen Stakes in Melbourne this weekend last year, he still ran third behind Imperatriz but it ended his campaign and the chance at back-to-back Everests.

Douglas said the now five-year-old has shown in his jump out and two trials in Sydney that he’s in good shape and it’s the time to put him to the test in the Group 3 $1 million Southern Cross Group Concorde Stakes (1000m).

“We’ve had to be very meticulous in the way we’ve had to prepare him,’’ Douglas said.

“Over the last few months it’s been fairly straightforward but initially there was a lot of work involved to make sure he was healing properly.

“If you didn’t know the circumstances behind his long break you wouldn’t think he’d had that long off.

“We probably could have had him up and going early but we elected to be patient and hopefully it can pay off.

“If he’s attacking the line strongly and he looks like he’s back to his best we’ll be happy.

“I’m just mindful that everything goes well and he comes through it well and we can leave the racecourse with a smile on our face.”

The Concorde has proven a reliable guide to the TAB Everest since 2017 with the likes of Redzel (three times), Gytrash, Nature Strip and Eduardo all carrying the weight penalty to win.

Giga Kick, $2.70 with TAB on Wednesday and $8 in the Everest, is the only TAB Everest winner to have had their lead up race outside of Sydney but Douglas was keen to campaign at Randwick to take advantage of his liking for the track.

In four starts at Randwick he’s won an Everest and Group 1 All Aged Stakes, he ran second in last year's TJ Smith and a luckless third in the Challenge Stakes over the 1000m.

“I didn’t really want to kick him off over 1000m around the Valley,’’ Douglas said.

“He’s performed well in a Challenge Stakes before so it was logical to kick him off in the Concorde and it gives us a bit of time between his first and second-up run.

“I’m sure everyone is sitting on the fence to see how he comes back but he’s in really good order and it all seems to be ticking over nicely at the moment.”

Next month’s Group 2 Premiere Stakes (1200m) will be Giga Kick’s final Everest lead up.

James McDonald has trialled Giga Kick in his two Sydney hitouts and has given Douglas positive feedback about the improvement he made from his first into the second.

The major concern for the trainer is whether, with a year off the scene, they outsprint him over the short course first-up but he’s content that his Everest slot hopes likely don’t hinge on a first-up win.

Giga Kick wins a trial at Randwick on August 30

“It’s a race he’s there to be able to win but we have it in the back of the mind that he’s coming off a long break so he might be a bit rusty with his game day fitness,’’ he said.

“He’s a very good horse and he’s proven that already. He has to carry the penalty but I don’t think that will worry him.

“Maybe at the 1000m they might be a bit quick for him but his trials have been really good and it’s a good kick off point for him.

“The more speed on the better it will suit us, hopefully he can settle down into a spot and finish off strongly.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Randwick meeting