The younger sibling to star sprinter Giga Kick could not emulate his deeds by producing a debut victory for Clayton Douglas.
Giga Kick, by Scissor Kick, started his career with victory in a two-year-old maiden at Sale, but his three-quarter brother Pantoja, by Pariah, had to settle for third place in a two-year-old maiden over 1100m at Bendigo on Tuesday.
Pantoja, who is raced by Giga Kick’s owner Jonathan Munz, was sent out a well-supported $3.20 betting app favourite, and was beaten a little over 2-½ lengths behind debutant Grinzinger Pod.
Ben Brisbourne, who prepares the winner, Grinzinger Pod, said his filly, a daughter of Calyx, had shown ability, however it was hard to get a true guide on her ability in country jump-outs and trials.
A $15 chance under Lachlan King, Grinzinger Pod outbobbed Markdel ($4.20) on the line with Pantoja back in third place.
“We’ve always liked her, but it is hard to get a true line in country jump-outs,” Brisbourne told racing.com.
“But I jumped her out with a couple of older horses at home and she had gone well, but she just needed to put it altogether on race day.
“It didn’t quite go to plan. She was slow out of the barriers, had to come wide and got headed inside the last 100 (metres) and fought back.
“She’s a filly with a bit of quality and she’s shown that in a number of ways.
“Lachie has trialled her here and came up to Wangaratta to give her that jump-out and it’s good of him to stick.”
Grinzinger Prod is raced by John Wheeler who has horses with a number of stables, but the filly is the to race out of Brisbourne’s yard.
The filly was a $38,000 yearling purchase at the VOBIS Gold Sale last year.
“I’m absolutely rapt to get a winner John Wheeler who is new to the stable this season,” Brisbourne said.
“She was bought out of the VOBIS Gold Sale.
“I had a phone call to ask if I would call John and ask if I could train this filly, and I did, and he sent me a couple of other young ones as well, which I’m really grateful for.
“It’s really good to get that relationship started and hopefully go on to bigger and better things now.”
