Anthony and Sam Freedman are anticipating a very different race tempo for Tom Kitten’s second run of the campaign, even though the field size remains the same.
The colt heads into the Group 2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley after finishing fifth when resuming in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on September 13.
The Makybe Diva was run at a muddling tempo, and Tom Kitten didn’t help his chances by over-racing, leaving little in reserve for the finish.
This time, the presence of Pride Of Jenni in the six-horse line-up on Friday night should ensure a solid tempo, something expected to suit Tom Kitten’s style.
Sam Freedman said there was limited to take from his first-up outing, other than the fact that his manners at the barriers had improved noticeably.
Tom Kitten had earlier missed the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) on August 30 after misbehaving in the barriers and being withdrawn.
“He began really well out of the gates if you want to take something positive out of the experience first-up,” Freedman said.
“He was very fresh for the first half, and it probably told at the finish. He pulled too hard, but all the same he pulled up well and had a nice blow.
“Coming to the Feehan, it will be a different race shape to what he was coming out of, so we felt the need to step his training up and be quite hard on him between runs.
“It’s a tricky dynamic when you’re coming out of a slowly run race to one where they go flat out.
“Pride Of Jenni being in a race, you need to be rock hard fit, so he’s had a couple of searching gallops between runs and he’ll be in the firing line on Friday night.”
Tom Kitten also galloped at Moonee Valley on Monday to familiarise himself with the circuit, and Freedman said he coped with the surface well.
Looking further ahead, Freedman hopes to see the colt back on track for a strong spring preparation, with the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) on October 25 still firmly in his sights following second acceptances.
“That (race at Flemington) was our Memsie run, clearing the cobwebs, and hopefully now we can have a clear run through,” Freedman said.
“You chase your tail a little bit, but hopefully he’s on the right leg and he can make an impact.”
If you’re looking to bet on the Feehan Stakes, be sure to compare the best betting sites, trusted bookmakers and top betting apps for value this weekend.