Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Sam Freedman has suggested Tom Kitten might need the hit-out in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes on Saturday before we see the best of the six-year-old.
Tom Kitten is set to take on several stars – and some with a fitness edge – in another impressive Memsie Stakes.
Freedman said despite his runner having had a ‘’faultless prep’’, he expects the gelding to improve following the 1400m race.
‘’He’s trialled up nicely a couple of times. Hot race, big field, I think the big field will suit him, good tempo for a first-up run for him,’’ Freedman told racing.com
‘’I think he’ll improve, but we probably felt he’d improve first up last prep when he obviously was an excellent winner at Caulfield over the 1400m, so he’s probably got to elevate off that this time round, but he’s come back in great order.
‘’He’s sound, moving great, and he’s had a faultless prep.”
Freedman said race-fit rivals might have the edge on Tom Kitten, although he expects the gelding to be doing his best work late.”
‘’I would think he can finish off, run fourth, fifth or sixth something like that. Wouldn’t shock if he can feature right there in the finish,’’ he said.
‘’I think a big field and a really solid tempo will play in his favour, and soft ground won’t be an issue for him as well.
‘’It might be a couple of other sort of race fit, hard and on speed gallopers that might have his measure, but he’ll be closing off very well.’’
