James Cummings is sticking to a familiar strategy with one of his horses in Saturday’s Futurity Stakes, while the other enters new territory.
Tom Kitten will make his first Victorian appearance in over two years, resuming in the $750,000 Group 1 at Caulfield. The son of Harry Angel last raced in Victoria in the 2023 Group 2 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m), but since then has campaigned exclusively in Sydney.
Cummings was pleased with Tom Kitten’s low draw in gate two for the 1400-metre weight-for-age event, noting that it should give him a good chance to perform well. “Whilst he comes up against tough opposition, he’s ready to acquit himself well,” Cummings said.
The Futurity Stakes will be his first start since finishing third in the Golden Eagle (1500m). Cummings is considering several options for the four-year-old depending on his performance, including a potential run in the All-Star Mile or the George Ryder Stakes. “He’s really one of our leading contestants for the Doncaster at the moment,” Cummings added.
Tom Kitten will start alongside stablemate Pericles, who was runner-up to Mr Brightside in last year’s Futurity Stakes. Cummings is confident in Pericles’ consistency, as he has already shown solid form at Group 1 level.
The Futurity Stakes precedes the $2 million Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m), where Cummings will also be represented by Tempted, last-start Group 3 Widden Stakes runner-up.