Tom Kitten chasing the 2025 King Charles III Stakes

Tom Kitten’s spring has been one of stop-start momentum, but trainer Sam Freedman believes everything has finally aligned for the gelding to produce his best performance yet in Saturday’s Group 1 King Charles III Stakes (1609m) at Randwick.

The four-year-old’s preparation was thrown off course when he was scratched at the barriers in the Memsie Stakes (1400m), forcing him to play catch-up ever since. He then contested the Makybe Diva Stakes and Feehan Stakes, races that didn’t pan out to suit, both dominated from the front by Mr Brightside.

“He’s been good, he arrived up in Sydney on Sunday morning,” Freedman said. “He worked strongly Tuesday morning, so he just needs a big field, a lot of tempo. He should get that on Saturday, which is, I think, just what he’s been lacking in his races so far this prep.”

Freedman, who trains in partnership with his father Anthony, said Tom Kitten had been crying out for a race with genuine tempo. “They’ve all been small fields, tactical races. He’s been over-racing a touch, but he feels like he’s probably coming right for the right race,” he said.

Reflecting on the interrupted campaign, Freedman admitted it has been a challenge to get the gelding back into rhythm. “It’s been frustrating. Missing the run in the Memsie, it’s had a bit of a knock on effect. We had to trial him again, then he went to the Makybe and they crawled, he was keen,” Freedman lamented. “Then he went to the Feehan and they went flat out from the thousand (metres). He had to work into the race to get to them, and then he ran out of tickets the last little bit.”

Still, Freedman believes those runs have him perfectly conditioned for the 1609m Group 1. “But weirdly enough, the two races have possibly married up to have him pretty ripe for Saturday. I saw Attrition ran really well in the Hill Stakes out of Pride Of Jenni’s race, so I think there’s some confidence that he’s going to be ready to go for this weekend,” he said.

“His best form he’ll be right there, but it’s a tough race and on exposed form so far this prep he needs to improve, but I think the trip away, his coat’s starting to come right, he’ll give him something to race for anyway.”

Tom Kitten has been priced at $21 in early markets for the King Charles III Stakes, which will be run over a true 1609m. Fangirl leads the market, while the extended trip slightly favours three-year-olds under weight-for-age conditions, including Bjorn Baker’s filly Within The Law, who drops to 49kg if she takes her place.

Racing fans looking to bet on the King Charles III Stakes can find odds, form guides and bookmaker offers through Australia’s leading betting sites.