The Anthony and Sam Freedman stable is aiming for a better result from Tom Kitten in this year’s Memsie Stakes at Caulfield.
It was 12 months ago that Tom Kitten was scratched at the start of the Group 1 race over 1400m after becoming fractious in the barriers.
The incident disrupted Tom Kitten’s spring campaign, with the Godolphin-owned galloper forced to play catch-up throughout the preparation.
The gelding did eventually wind it up by running third to Via Sistina on a very heavy Flemington track on the final day of Melbourne Cup week.
Tom Kitten resumed in the autumn to capture the Kevin Heffernan Stakes over 1400m first-up and returns to that trip on Saturday to begin his spring campaign.
A $19 chance in latest betting, Sam Freedman concedes that is a reflection of the quality of Saturday’s race.
Freedman said the latest weather conditions in Melbourne had not been ideal in preparing Tom Kitten for the Group 1 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.
He said the five horses from the Chris Waller stable – Buckaroo, Angel Capital, Birdman, Autumn Boy and Beiwacht – along with the Ciaron Maher-trained Jimmysstar all likely had the wood on his galloper at this stage of his campaign.
“I didn’t envisage it coming up quite a strong as it is,” Freedman from SEN.
“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.”
While Tom Kitten has been successful three times from seven first-up appearances, Freedman is expecting Tom Kitten to need the outing on Saturday.
“He will improve with the run, but he was a fresh winner, in a much weaker race, last preparation,” Freedman said. “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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