Star jockey Ben Melham believes Tom Kitten’s recent trial was misleading, saying the gelding will head to a classic Memsie Stakes with a fitness edge.
Melham said the 5 year-old gelding’s trial was better than it looked and is perfectly placed despite the strong Group 1 at Caulfield on Saturday.
”He’s in great order, he trialled really well two back and he sort of out-wide on the course proper the other day. It can be a little bit deceptive … Treasurethe Moment he was sort of in amd on the rail and appeared to trial better but as I said if you out-wide on that course proper at Mornington you can sometimes be a little bit deceiving,” he said.
”But he’s since worked really well, he’s probably going to have a fitness edge having had the three trials on some of his rivals and obviously he runs really well first up, he’s drawn to get a good run.”
Melham said he believes Tom Kitten has taken his time to become the competitor he always threatened to be.
”I couldn’t be happier with the order he’s going into the race … he had a little bit of a bit of a stigma early doors but I’ve never seen any of that with him, he’s just a really good genuine horse and he’s just taken a little bit of time to… to to sort of learn and get the hang of things,” he said.
”But he’s a really genuine horse now and obviously he’s an All-Star Mile winner and … he’s well credentialed he’s run ran super in some some of the best races.
”It’s a high quality race but hoping with the draw and a little fitness edge that that might be enough for him to be able to stick his beak out in front.”
TOM KITTEN WINS THE ALL-STAR MILE! ⭐️@BMelham @godolphin pic.twitter.com/hvypE8OWUr
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) March 8, 2025
