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.
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.
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.
“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.
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