While the spring campaign proved elusive for Tom Kitten’s team, the autumn has opened brightly for the elite winner at Caulfield.
The gelding resumed to take out the Group 3 Kevin Heffernan Stakes (1400m) on Saturday, vindicating Anthony and Sam Freedman’s persistence amid last season’s troubles.
Having switched from James Cummings and Godolphin, the five-year-old suffered a barrier withdrawal from the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield during spring, setting him back.
Extensive training was required to ready Tom Kitten.
This preparation involved a patient ramp-up, rewarded by Craig Williams’ expert handling.
At $3 odds-on, Tom Kitten collared Feroce ($6) by a short-head, leaving Veight ($6) 3-¾ lengths off the pace in third.
“Craig and I had a chat before the event, and I really wanted to see him not have a gut buster and not have to circle the whole field and make a long run,” Sam Freedman said.
“You see when they got going, he kept him back, he made his run at the perfect time and it’s great to get the horse back in the winners’ stall.
“When you take on a horse like this that has been to the top of the mountain, there’s always a bit of pressure.
“Ultimately, we felt that he’d been running well in the spring but didn’t get the rub of the green.
“We’re not getting carried away as it is a fair step down from the level that he has been to, but on his times at home and the way he is carrying condition, he can hopefully get to the level he has been at again.”
The trainer highlighted changes in the gelding’s program, with enhanced condition.
A fresh start with less demanding sessions aligned perfectly with Tom Kitten’s needs.
“We were a victim last prep of missing a run when he was scratched at the gates,” Freedman said.
“We were chasing our tail going to the mile first-up and we were concerned that he was racing too keenly and we had to work to make him settle, which didn’t work.
“He pulled his head off in a sedate tempo in the Makybe Diva and then he gradually got better. He had a fitness run at The Valley, and then he was back on track in Sydney.”
Potential targets include the Futurity Stakes (1400m) February 21 at Caulfield or Blamey Stakes (1600m) February 28 Flemington, building to All-Star Mile (1600m) March 7 and Australian Cup (2000m) March 28. Dive into the betting markets for the race at top sites.
The post Tom Kitten back in winner’s stall at Caulfield first appeared on Just Horse Racing.