Kitten pounces in All-Star Mile as Godolphin wins four features

Tom Kitten put in a “scintillating” gallop in Melbourne last week and reproduced that performance at Flemington on Saturday, 8 March when he spearheaded a quadruple Stakes-winning day for Godolphin.

By running down weight-for-age champion Mr Brightside in the G1 All-Star Mile at Flemington, Tom Kitten recorded his second win at the highest level and also handed head trainer James Cummings the 51st G1 winner of his career.

Cummings also prepared Tempted (James McDonald) and Commemorative (Jason Collett) to win at Randwick, while co-trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman led in visiting colt Tentyris (Nash Rawiller) for His Highness Sheikh Mohammed.

But Tom Kitten was undoubtedly star of the royal blue show.

Beautifully ridden by Ben Melham, Tom Kitten added the All-Star Mile to his resounding victory in the 2023 Spring Champion Stakes 2,000m at Randwick and lifted his record to six wins and six placings from 22 starts for prize-money and bonuses totalling $5.33 million.  

“He’d been scintillating during the week and backed it up against the heavyweights,” Cummings said from Randwick.

“We’ve got options with him, where we go next.

“The Australian Cup is going to look nice in three weeks, but he could also be back here and use the George Ryder as a key lead-up to the Doncaster.

“They are the two options I am looking at; either way he’s going to run well.”

An unlucky and narrow second behind Mr Brightside in the G1 Futurity Stakes 1,400m at Caulfield two weeks earlier, Tom Kitten could be in for his best preparation after finally filling into his massive frame.

Cummings won’t decide the next target for the four-year-old son of Harry Angel until next week, as he also juggles programs with stablemates Zardozi and Broadsiding.

“Zardozi is in Melbourne and I’ve got the colt Broadsiding to think about where I go next,” Cummings said.

We’ll let the dust settle on the day, enjoy the win, but I love watching Harry Angel scaling that sires’ table so quickly.”

Broadsiding lost no admirers when he finished a half-length second to the slightly fitter Linebacker in the G1 Randwick Guineas over 1,600m.

“I felt like he repeated his good effort from first-up (Hobartville Stakes victory)  and was just outstayed by Linebacker,” Cummings said.

“He was game all the way to the line and has run very well at his first two runs back this preparation.

“That should set him up for the rest of this preparation.”

Tempted scored her spot in the G1 Golden Slipper 1,200m at Rosehill Gardens in two weeks when she burst down the centre of the track from wide and well back to win the G2 Reisling Stakes at Randwick.

Wide and blocked for a run when seventh in the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield at her previous start, Tempted confirmed her potential when she beat Marhoona and Inkaruna in a fast 1 minute 8.49 seconds for 1,200m.

“We were pleased with her performance (Blue Diamond), she got back in amongst the ruck there and finished off well enough,” said Godolphin’s racing and bloodstock manager Jason Walsh.

“We thought she was a high-class filly going there and we didn’t leave feeling any different so it’s great to see that vindicated today.

“She has always shown a great turn of foot and we think she’s high class.

“Her mother (Calliope) was very, very good and we didn’t get to see the best of her for reasons of behaviour.

“She’s given us two Stakes winners (also Kallos) and this filly will make her presence felt in a couple of weeks, no doubt.”

Tentyris showed he was also stiff in the Blue Diamond when finishing a close second after only securing clear running in the final 100m.

Like Tempted, who is also by Darley sire Street Boss, Tentyris rushed home from well back to win the G2 Darley Todman Stakes 1,200m running away from Wodeton and Nepotism in a slightly slower 1:09.06.

Anthony Freedman said the big chestnut colt had taken time to mature but was now off to the Golden Slipper.

“We’ve always liked him but he made a mess of his first start (fifth),” Freedman said.

“But ever since then he’s grown up and the trip up here, whatever the result, was always going to make him a better horse.

“His form is now looking very consistent, if you rule out his first start.”

Freedman said the Slipper had always been a target race if Tentyris had developed quickly enough.

“It’s more mental than anything,” the co-trainer said.

“He was a big baby and made a mess of his first start, but he’s just kept building.

“I’ve said all along that there’s no (Slipper) standout, hopefully he’s it.

“If he has a good couple of weeks, he should be thereabouts.”

Cummings finished the day on a high note when monster mare Commemorative travelled wide and back in the field before surging to the lead at the 200m pole for an impressive victory in the G3 Wenona Girl Quality over 1,200m.

The four-year-old, unlucky when blocked for a run when third at Randwick three weeks ago, beat Outback Miss by 1.75 lengths with Junqueira a short-neck away third in a sizzling 1:08.09.

“It was ideal the way things unfolded for Commemorative and (jockey) Jason Collett was very attentive before the race how we would ride her,” Cummings said.

“He listened, he went with her and he put in the big bounds out wide.

“She backed up that excellent first-up run with a big effort this afternoon, which lays a good foundation.

“Our options are open, but I do like the look of the Birthday Card in a couple of weeks.

“It’s good to see her hitting her straps.

“That was a strong win and I like the way she put them away late.”

Collett was impressed with Commemorative and tipped even bigger wins were in store after her fourth win, with three placings, from just 11 starts. 

“The gate (11) played into our hands nicely today and it was going to be effective, drawing wide,” he said.

“I just wanted to make sure she was comfortable.

“She was the first half of the race, I gave her a chance to finish it off and she executed perfectly.

“She’s so powerful; when you can turn into the straight with them under you, it’s a good feeling.

“More wins ahead, definitely.”

Cummings had the last word on a great day for his stable.

“The whole team have produced big-time today, the horses have performed beautifully,” he said.

“On big days it’s important to step up and the boys have pulled together, so I am very proud of them.

“Most of all, it’s important for the horses to do the talking.”