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By Ray Hickson

As the rain fell over Randwick on Tuesday morning, trainer Clayton Douglas watched his 2022 TAB Everest champ Giga Kick gallop and couldn’t help but feel like he’d been there before.

Trainer Clayton Douglas (Pic: Grant Guy)

It was his final piece of work ahead of the Group 1 $20m TAB Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday, and it reminded him in more ways than one of the build up two years ago.

There were differences – he worked with a mate and with race jockey Mark Zahra in the saddle – but he left the track with the same thought that the gelding couldn’t be any better for the grand final.

“It was a little bit déjà vu. Two years ago is was pretty much the same conditions,’’ Douglas said.

“On the Tuesday morning prior to the Everest we galloped and it was a really wet track and he worked well.

“This time he was in company, he had a lead horse to work him along and it was the first time I’ve worked him in company all preparation.

“He was sharp and he gobbled up his work mate pretty quickly and went to the line strong. He’s ready to go, he’s tuned up.”

Giga Kick was unbeaten when he won the TAB Everest as a three-year-old and went on to claim two Group 1s in the autumn of that season.

Douglas was preparing him for an Everest defence last year when he sustained a well publicised injury in his first-up run and spent almost a year on the sidelines.

There’s been plenty of attention on the now five-year-old’s two runs in Sydney this spring – he was a major drifter fresh before running fifth in the Concorde Stakes (1000m) then finished under a length behind Airman in the Premiere Stakes (1200m) two weeks ago.

Shortly before that race it was revealed Giga Kick's owner Jonanthan Munz's Pinecliff Racing had acquired the ATC's Everest slot and his place in the race was secure.

“He was probably a little fresh first-up, he landed in a forward spot wide and ran well,’’ he said.

“The other day he was closer again off a slow speed.

“He’s had a great week post his Premiere run, and he’s worked really well so I’m really happy with him. If he gets the right run in transit he’s going to be very hard to beat.”

When he arrived at the Big Top in the Randwick infield for Tuesday night’s barrier draw, Douglas wanted the déjà vu to continue and for Giga Kick to draw barrier five as he did in 2022.

He came up with three and Douglas said that should afford Giga Kick, $13 with TAB on Thursday, his chance to join Redzel (2017-18) as a dual winner and he’ll have no excuses come Everest Day given he will strike a track that’s a little more forgiving than in his two runs back.

“Third-up was always my plan of attack, his performances third-up have always been his best,’’ he said.

“To have him back and have him in the race I’m just so happy. His performances have been quite good, I feel, and I’ve been happy with what I’ve seen in the improvement he’s taken from the other day.

Giga Kick runs fourth in the Premiere Stakes

“He's fairly straightforward but I think he’s a horse that will suit Mark.

“He likes to rest early in a run and be exposed where he can chase down something and that’s the way Mark likes to ride.

“I always felt getting into a fast run race, which I anticipate it will be, we’re going to see him at his best. And we know his best is very good.”

All the fields, form and replays for TAB Everest Day at Royal Randwick