Tom Kitten’s spring campaign hasn’t gone exactly to plan, but trainer Sam Freedman is confident the gelding is primed to peak when he tackles Saturday’s Group 1 King Charles III Stakes (1609m) at Randwick.
After being scratched at the barriers in the Memsie Stakes (1400m), Tom Kitten was forced to play catch-up, contesting the Makybe Diva Stakes and Feehan Stakes without success. Both races were run at contrasting tempos, leaving Freedman to believe Saturday’s expected strong pace will finally suit his charge.
“He’s been good, he arrived up in Sydney on Sunday morning,” Freedman said. “He worked strongly Tuesday morning, so he just needs a big field, a lot of tempo. He should get that on Saturday, which is, I think, just what he’s been lacking in his races so far this prep.”
Freedman admits the interrupted schedule has been challenging. “It’s been frustrating. Missing the run in the Memsie, it’s had a bit of a knock on effect. We had to trial him again, then he went to the Makybe and they crawled, he was keen,” he said. “Then he went to the Feehan and they went flat out from the thousand (metres). He had to work into the race to get to them, and then he ran out of tickets the last little bit.”
Nonetheless, the trainer feels those efforts have set the horse up perfectly for the 1609m test. “But weirdly enough, the two races have possibly married up to have him pretty ripe for Saturday. I saw Attrition ran really well in the Hill Stakes out of Pride Of Jenni’s race, so I think there’s some confidence that he’s going to be ready to go for this weekend,” he said.
“His best form he’ll be right there, but it’s a tough race and on exposed form so far this prep he needs to improve, but I think the trip away, his coat’s starting to come right, he’ll give him something to race for anyway.”
Tom Kitten is currently listed at $21 with bookmakers behind market elect Fangirl. The King Charles III Stakes will be run at 1609m instead of 1600m, giving a minor weight advantage to three-year-olds such as Bjorn Baker’s Within The Law, who will carry 49kg under the weight-for-age scale.
Fans can compare the latest King Charles III Stakes odds and promotions via Australian betting sites.
