Harry Angel Colt Tom Kitten Last to First in Fernhill

Mark Smith - Saturday April 8

Godolphin’s Harry Angel (IRE) colt Tom Kitten staged a last-to-first performance in the Listed Grainshaker Vodka Fernhill Stakes (1600m) to kick-start day two of The Championships at Randwick.

Tom Kitten rounds them up (image Steve Hart)

Ridden by Nash Rawiller for James Cummings, Tom Kitten scythed between runners in the straight to edge the Extreme Choice colt Make a Call by a short-neck with Dundeel colt Townsend a length back in third.

It was the second win in four starts for Tom Kitten, who relegated Make a Call to second in a 1300m maiden at Warwick Farm on February 8.

The result has breathed some life into the first season sire table, led by Justify (USA). But that stallion’s star performer Learning To Fly on the sidelines, gives Harry Angel (IRE) a chance to close the $500,000 gap.

Advertisement
It may well rest with Tom Kitten if he takes place in next week’s Champagne Stakes at Randwick.

James Cummings hasn’t ruled that out.

“We will give it some thought. He is a raw 2yo who will love getting over ground,” Cummings said.

“He is by Harry Angel (IRE), who is equal leading first-season sire for stakes-winners and gets his stakes-winning ratio to about 14.2%, which is elite level. That’s a good start for a young sire. If we start next week, you would have to think he will stay it out while some others may have the 1600m query. There is a lot to like about him on the backup.

“He didn’t get to show his true merit in the VRC Sires, although we thought his run had a bit of quality.

Tom Kitten salutes under blue skies at Randwick (image Steve Hart)

“He has been crying to get over a mile. Once he got that gap, he charged at them and stayed on well. It gives us some options with him. 

A half-brother to the Listed Canberra Guineas winner Promotions (Exceed And Excel), Tom Kitten is the fourth winner from as many to race from the capable Street Cry (IRE) mare Transfers.

A descendent of the hugely influential import Dancing Show (USA), Transfers has a yearling colt by Brazen Beau and was covered by Kingman’s 5-time Group 1 winning son Palace Pier (GB) last spring.

Tom Kitten is the second black-type winner in Australia for Darley Stud’s Harry Angel (IRE) after the Inglis Banner winner, and Group 1 Blue Diamond takes third Arkansaw Kid.

Harry Angel (IRE)

 

Advertisment

Race Result - Grainshaker Vodka Fernhill LR 1600m

Randwick Track: Heavy(8) Time: 1:40.22
1
Tom Kitten
- 2c Harry Angel (IRE) x Transfers (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: N Rawiller 57.5
2
0.2
Make A Call
- 2c Extreme Choice (AUS) x To Dubawi Go (AUS) (Dubawi (IRE))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: J B Mc Donald 57
3
1.2
Townsend
- 2c Dundeel (NZ) x Secret Admirer (AUS) (Dubawi (IRE))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Tim Clark 57.5
4
1.8
Tannhauser
- 2c Dundeel (NZ) x Luqyaa (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J Moreira 55.5
5
2.4
Kintyre
- 2c Hallowed Crown (AUS) x Mull Over (AUS) (So You Think (NZ))
Tnr: G Portelli Rdr: Tyler Schiller 57
6
8.3
Inhibitions
- 2f Zoustar (AUS) x Workdrinks (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: B Avdulla 57.5
7
17.5
Sheetice
- 2c Frosted (USA) x Missvonn (AUS) (Teofilo (IRE))
Tnr: T R Martin Rdr: B Prebble 56.5
More Reading...
Million-dollar Hour for Leung at NZB Ready To Run
Hong Kong bloodstock agent Willie Leung had a big hour at Karaka early on Thursday afternoon, spending more than $1 million to secure two well-credentialled colts at the NZB Ready to Run Sale.
Castelvecchio Out for Remainder of Season
Aeliana’s late charge into second place in the $1.5million Group I MRC Thousand Guineas last Saturday stamped her as the filly to follow out of the race, but it wasn’t quite enough to put her sire Castelvecchio to the top of the second season sires list and he is now out of service at Arrowfield following surgery last week.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Castelvecchio has gone from nowhere to somewhere during the course of this spring with three stakes-winners putting his name in lights and he had a promising three year-old colt salute at Hawkesbury on Thursday that has now won two of three starts.
Arkansaw Kid Brother Sells for $520,000
A well-related son of Harry Angel provided a late highlight in the final hour of the 2024 NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka on Thursday when he was knocked down to a $520,000 bid from bloodstock agent Morgan Carter.
Blockbuster Sale as NZB Ready to Run Records Tumble
Expectations were exceeded at Karaka with tremendous results witnessed across two days of selling at NZB’S 2024 Ready to Run Sale, confirming the demand for proven racetrack results and quality New Zealand-prepared horses.
Vale, Danny Champion
The thoroughbred racing industry is in mourning following the passing of respected horseman Danny Champion.
Harry Angel's Tom Kitten Strikes in Up And Coming
The strapping Harry Angel colt Tom Kitten gave his rivals weight and a beating in Saturday’s Group III CMNL Up And Coming Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill Gardens.
Churchill Colt Pulls Off Stunning Pinhooking Result at NZB Ready To Run
Chad Ormsby has enjoyed plenty of racetrack success this year with pinhooks that he has been unable to sell at the Ready to Run Sale, but the multi-talented horseman had a very different outcome with the standout member of his 2024 Riverrock Farm draft at Karaka on Thursday.
Tom Kitten a Class Above in Champion Stakes
Tom Kitten was in a class of his own in Saturday’s $2,000,000 Group 1 Moet and Chandon Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick to credit the Darley shuttler Harry Angel (IRE) with his first Group 1 winner.
Harry Angel's Tom Kitten Opens Winning Account
Godolphin’s Tom Kitten gave first-season sire Harry Angel (IRE) his third winner and franked the Melbourne form when breaking his maiden in the Yes Yes Yes 1st Yearlings Maiden (1300m) at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.