Hope springs eternal for Cummings with luckless Tom Kitten

Godolphin trainer James Cummings has had a singular focus for Spring Champion Stakes favourite Tom Kitten since August, but success in the Randwick group 1 classic on Saturday could open a Derby option next week.

Although he has only won the Up And Coming Stakes to start his campaign, Tom Kitten is a firming $2.30 favourite in the final group 1 of the Everest carnival after placings in the Ming Dynasty Quality, Dulcify Stakes and Gloaming Stakes where luck was not his friend.

Tom Kitten is a firm favourite for the Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.Credit: Getty

“We had a plan with him and we get here having ticked every box on the way,” Cummings said. “Maybe not with all the results we wanted, however I feel he has shown himself to be a strong 2000m horse that could even stretch out to the Derby trip if we want to go that way.

“That could be next week [in the Victoria Derby] or next year [in the Australian Derby].

“He is a very fit horse and we just need his luck to turn around in the group 1 we have aimed at.”

Cummings can list the reasons why Tom Kitten hasn’t won since his spring return to racing but remains positive and thinks drawing the inside in gate one might afford the colt a kinder run in transit.

Tom Kitten will have a new partner in Adam Hyeronimus, who replaces the suspended Nash Rawiller.

“Adam has a great record at the Randwick 2000m and is riding high with confidence from the Flight Stakes win,” Cummings said. “We can’t let the little things that have gone against Tom Kitten take away from the fact he is just a good horse.

“Most horses would have given up the ghost chasing in those races, but he was proving to be the unlucky runner of the race three times.