The training partnership of Anthony and Sam Freedman is aiming for an improved performance from Tom Kitten in the upcoming Memsie Stakes at Caulfield.
Twelve months prior, Tom Kitten was withdrawn from the Group 1 race over 1400 metres after becoming agitated in the starting gates.
This incident disrupted Tom Kitten’s spring campaign, forcing the Godolphin-owned gelding to play catch-up for the remainder of the preparation.
He ultimately concluded his campaign by securing third place behind Via Sistina on a very wet Flemington track during Melbourne Cup week.
Tom Kitten returned in the autumn to win the Kevin Heffernan Stakes over 1400m first-up and will race over the same distance on Saturday to commence his spring campaign.
Currently a $19 chance in the betting, Sam Freedman acknowledges this reflects the strength of Saturday’s field.
Freedman commented that the recent weather in Melbourne had not been ideal for preparing Tom Kitten for the Group 1 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.
He suggested that the five runners from the Chris Waller stable – Buckaroo, Angel Capital, Birdman, Autumn Boy, and Beiwacht – along with the Ciaron Maher-trained Jimmysstar, likely hold an advantage over his galloper at this point in their campaigns.
“I didn’t envisage it coming up quite a strong as it is,” Freedman stated.
“I do think the Sydney (prepared) horses will have a bit of an edge on the Melbourne horses coming into the start of the spring is my view.
“They’ve had much warmer weather, probably had good access to tracks and the horses genuinely look and feel a little better to start off the spring.
“My view is that they start to even out once they get to that Caulfield Carnival and beyond.”
Although Tom Kitten has won three of his seven first-up starts, Freedman anticipates Tom Kitten will benefit from the run on Saturday.
“He will improve with the run, but he was a fresh winner, in a much weaker race, last preparation,” Freedman explained. “It wouldn’t be a shock if he’s running very well and is steaming through them late, but I feel the Sydney horses may just have the edge.”
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