Michael Cox
A low barrier made the difference for Cap Ferrat in the 2025 BMW Hong Kong Derby and gate one could be the boost that his former foe Tom Kitten needs in Saturday's Group 1 Doncaster Mile at Randwick.
Tom Kitten - jumping from barrier one - beat Cap Ferrat in the 2023 G1 Spring Champion Stakes and his last four wins have come from barriers three, one, one and four.
"Tom Kitten's record from inside barriers is very, very, good," his trainer James Cummings said during the week. "Nothing looked better when he was in full flight in the Spring Champion Stakes defeating Cap Ferrat, who went on to win a Hong Kong Derby."
Cummings also pointed to some placings in other races in which Tom Kitten ran well when able to be positioned from a low draw, something that is crucial in a high pressure race like the Doncaster, which features 20 runners.
"From barrier two in the Golden Eagle he beat all the Australian horses, the only horses to beat him home were the international horses with the Northern Hemisphere weight allowances," Cummings said. "I do recognize he was luckless in the Futurity, but that was Caulfield and it was different to a Doncaster which should be run genuinely under handicap conditions.
"In a big field, horses might get held up briefly but most of the time they get into the clear and get a chance.
"I can picture Tom Kitten getting that chance and Ben Melham being quite pleased that he got the draw, given he's now got options to stick to the rail or come left through them."
Tom Kitten won the All-Star Mile in Melbourne two starts back and although fifth when back in Sydney last start in the G1 George Ryder, Cummings said that run was better than it looked on paper and that his horse was peaking at the right time.
"I believe the horse's effort in the George Ryder was excellent to finish as close as he did off the wide run, following a horse as sharp as Fangirl was brave," he said. "Looking forward, the run as a lead-up to the Doncaster was quite good from the perspective that he got something out of it.
"In my mind we have him absolutely perfect to be rock-hard fit and peaking for the 1,600m at Randwick in much the same vein, maybe even better, than we had him going into the Epsom late last year.
"Tom Kitten is airborne this preparation, I don't think we could have him better for the Doncaster."
Seven-time Hong Kong champion jockey Zac Purton will return to his homeland to ride at the meeting and his chances include former Canadian-trained mare Moira in the Doncaster.
Moira last raced when winning the G1 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Del Mar last November.
Andrea Atzeni will also be at Randwick after being booked to ride the William Haggas-trained Al Mubhir in the Doncaster.
Hong Kong-based jockey Karis Teetan opted not to take the trip Down Under after it was uncertain whether or not his Doncaster ride Rise At Dawn, the second emergency, would gain a run.
michael.cox@singtaonewscorp.com
Tom Kitten, left, won the All-Star Mile ahead of Mr Brightside in Mlebourne. VINCE CALIGURI
