Even James Cummings seems a little surprised that Tom Kitten has put together a body of work that has him the short-priced favourite for Saturday’s Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick.
That he is such a strong chance in a 2000-metre Group 1 doesn’t make a great deal of sense when you look at his pedigree page.
The three-year-old is by a sprint star in Harry Angel, out of a mare whose family is predominantly at their best over sprint trips.
But Cummings thinks those genes, combined with Tom Kitten’s physical make-up, are what has helped his defy the pedigree page.
“He looks like a classic staying three-year-old in the spring, but he’s got a lot of speed in his pedigree and I’d like to think that turn of foot can get him out of trouble from time to time,” Cummings said.
“It certainly got him closer in the finish than what he was entitled to get in the Gloaming (Stakes) and you do need that to be a winning chance in a Group 1 at any time.”
Tom Kitten will be striving to give Harry Angel, a son of Dark Angel, his maiden Group 1 success in the Spring Champion Stakes.
Along with Group 1 Blue Diamond placegetter Arkansaw Kid and Group 2 Danehill Stakes winner Stretan Angel, Tom Kitten has been an early Australian flagbearer for Harry Angel, who won a Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes at two before claiming a July Cup (1207m) and Sprint Cup (1207m) at Group 1 level at three.
Tom Kitten’s dam Transfers is a daughter of Winx’s sire Street Cry but to date has thrown horses at their best over sprint trips.
She is a granddaughter of Twyla, who is a three-quarter-sister to Redoute’s Choice, which means Tom Kitten at least boasts a Spring Champion Stakes winner in the family with the legendary sire a brother to 2002 Spring Champion winner Platinum Scissors.
Tom Kitten hinted early that he was going to be at his best over further than most members of the family and won the Listed Fernhill Stakes (1600m) before finishing fourth in the Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) at his final two starts as a two-year-old.
He won the Group 3 Up & Coming Stakes (1300m) at his first start as a three-year-old and has had excuses at his past three starts, which have resulted in minor placings in the Group 3 Ming Dynasty Stakes (1400m), Listed Dulcify Stakes (1600m) and Group 3 Gloaming Stakes (1800m).
Tom Kitten has drawn barrier one in the Spring Champion Stakes, which Cummings hopes will present him the opportunity at an economical run.
“Barrier one, it gives the horse the best chance to be full of energy coming to the 350m and that’s hopefully going to be the difference in the Spring Champion Stakes,” he said.