Tom Kitten’s spring was marked by challenges for his connections, but the autumn has launched impressively at Caulfield for the Group 1 graduate.

Back from a let-up, the gelding captured the Group 3 Kevin Heffernan Stakes (1400m) on Saturday, easing concerns for Anthony and Sam Freedman after a problematic previous preparation.

The five-year-old, once trained by James Cummings at Godolphin, bypassed the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield last spring due to a barrier scratch, hampering his progress.

The Freedmans expended considerable effort to rebuild Tom Kitten’s fitness.

Contrastingly, this campaign featured a progressive conditioning phase, crowned by a well-judged effort from Craig Williams.

The $3 market elect edged Feroce ($6) by a short-head in the dying strides, as Veight ($6) trailed by 3-¾ lengths for third.

“Craig and I had a chat before the event, and I really wanted to see him not have a gut buster and not have to circle the whole field and make a long run,” Sam Freedman said.

“You see when they got going, he kept him back, he made his run at the perfect time and it’s great to get the horse back in the winners’ stall.

“When you take on a horse like this that has been to the top of the mountain, there’s always a bit of pressure.

“Ultimately, we felt that he’d been running well in the spring but didn’t get the rub of the green.

“We’re not getting carried away as it is a fair step down from the level that he has been to, but on his times at home and the way he is carrying condition, he can hopefully get to the level he has been at again.”

Freedman explained the shift in training methods, noting improved condition on the gelding.

Arriving fresh with moderated work suited Tom Kitten ideally.

“We were a victim last prep of missing a run when he was scratched at the gates,” Freedman said.

“We were chasing our tail going to the mile first-up and we were concerned that he was racing too keenly and we had to work to make him settle, which didn’t work.

“He pulled his head off in a sedate tempo in the Makybe Diva and then he gradually got better. He had a fitness run at The Valley, and then he was back on track in Sydney.”

Tom Kitten eyes the Futurity Stakes (1400m) on February 21 at Caulfield or Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington February 28, targeting the All-Star Mile (1600m) March 7 and the Australian Cup (2000m) March 28. Find competitive offers in the racing betting markets surrounding these key events.

The post Tom Kitten back in winner’s stall at Caulfield first appeared on Just Horse Racing.