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.
Ridden by Nash Rawiller for James Cummings, Tom Kitten came from midfield to defeat the determined Hallowed Crown gelding Kintyre by a long-head with a half-length back to the Capitalist gelding Encap, who was doing his best work at the finish.
The winner of the Listed Fernhill Hcp (1600m) and fourth in the Group 1 ATC Champagne stakes last season, Tom Kitten advances his record to three wins from six starts with earnings of $324,650.
“That is an exceptional win first up,” James Cummings enthused.
“It is not entirely surprising that he throws up a PB first up in his second prep but to give upwards of four and five kilos to these horses is a special performance and a very promising platform for the rest of the spring.
“It is not easy for a two-year-old to win over a mile at Group level. We did train him for it but that he was able to stretch out over that trip in the Autumn shows the natural stamina that he has got. He is a very interesting horse. I was thinking a couple of weeks ago that he has Spring Champion written all over him. He could have other races on the way there as well. We will hear what Nash has to say about that.
“To think that a Harry Angel has won the Up And Coming and he has had one in the Vain last week when one of his progeny nearly knocked off Cylinder. Tom Kitten is a raw horse who has improved vastly.”
“We will make sure that he is still in the (Golden Rose) noms. It’s a month away. We will keep those races in mind. He probably has got a bit to do to convince me that he is going to be quick enough at seven against those horses, but you never know. High pressure at seven furlongs can throw up some interesting things.”
Nash Rawiller is convinced the best is yet to come for Tom Kitten.
“It is exciting to get on him. After riding him through last prep I was thinking we might have a nice horse and going round to the gates today I thought we’ve got a horse,” Rawiller said.
“We had plans to ride for luck in the run, with the big weight, try and save ground, ride for the better part of the track. I straightened up and had a look, and it was like trying to park a bus in George Street.
“He's a horse you will never find the bottom off. He has gears. When you have had a bit to do with them as a young horse and they come back it is pretty exciting.”
A half-brother to the Listed Canberra Guineas winner Promotions (Exceed And Excel), Tom Kitten is the fourth winner from as many to race for the winning Street Cry (IRE) mare Transfers.
A descendent of the breed-shaping 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.
Learn more about the pedigree of Tom Kitten here.
Tom Kitten is one of three black-type winners in Australia from the first crop of Darley Stud’s Harry Angel (IRE).
The brilliant son of Dark Angel sired the the Inglis Banner winner, and Group 1 Blue Diamond takes third Arkansaw Kid, as well as the Listed SAJC Dequetteville Stakes winner Stretan Angel and the stakes-placegetters Vicious Harry and Ouroboros.
