Godolphin's Kitten in contention for Champagne
Tom Kitten is in line to join stablemate Amur in the Group 1 Champagne Stakes after coming from last to score an impressive victory in the Listed Fernhill Mile (1600m) at Randwick.
Trainer James Cummings confirmed they would look to back-up the colt in the final leg of the two-year-old triple crown after he proved his distance credentials on Saturday.
"Tom Kitten and Amur, they're really kicking goals and that's encouraging because a Group One in seven days, it's a potential target for Tom Kitten now he's proved himself over a mile at Randwick," Cummings said.
"He's also underlined the form from the VRC Sires', which we thought was pretty strong.
"He got traffic in the VRC Sires', not everything was ideal, but he warmed up well late and he's a pretty promising customer."
Ridden by Nash Rawiller, Tom Kitten ($6) stretched out nicely in the heavy conditions, surging between runners to nail Make A Call ($4.20 fav) by a short neck with Townsend ($5) another length away third.
Rawiller also won aboard Tom Kitten at Warwick Farm two starts ago and said the youngster was talented but still learning.
"He's like a big giraffe," Rawiller said.
"He had his head up there over the last 100 metres and you could tell he had the ability to put them away, but he just didn't quite know how to do it.
"He's still a work in progress, I don't think the team have gotten to the bottom of him. He's a really talented horse with a lot of potential.
Razeta razzes Classic rivals
After tossing up whether to run Razeta in a stakes race this weekend or next, trainer Kris Lees opted for the former and he was glad he did when the filly raced away with the Listed South Pacific Classic (1400m) at Randwick.
The James H B Carr Stakes over the same course and distance seven days later was also an option but a rousing track gallop by Razeta on Tuesday convinced Lees to pull the trigger and run her sooner rather than later.
"She worked really strongly Tuesday morning so we decided to run today rather than keep her for the fillies' race next week and she got a lovely ride from Dylan (Gibbons) so things worked out nice," Lees said.
Razeta hadn't been beaten far in top company during the early part of the autumn, including when finishing just over two lengths behind In Secret in the Light Fingers Stakes, before a midfield effort in the Kewney Stakes (1600m) in Melbourne.
But with the benefit of a freshen up and back to 1400m on Saturday, the daughter of Deep Field posted another valuable black-type win, adding to her Listed victory at Flemington in the spring.
Lees was unsure of his next move with Razeta and said he would let the dust settle before formulating a plan.
Kristilli brilliant in Percy Sykes
Popular media identity Lizzie Jelfs celebrated her biggest win on the racetrack when Kristilli scored an upset victory in the $1 million Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m).
Jelfs is an owner in the filly as part of the 'Race With Lizzie' concept, designed in partnership with trainer Annabel Neasham to bring like-minded people together to race horses.
Kristilli is their biggest success story to date, the youngster taking vast improvement from her second on debut in midweek grade to storm down the outside and capture Saturday's Group 2 race.
The result was a huge thrill for Jelfs and Neasham, who are close friends away from the track.
"It's actually a dream come true for us," Jelfs said.
"It's our first two-year-old runner in a stakes race, onwards and upwards."
Neasham said she initially wasn't going to run Kristilli in the Percy Sykes as she thought it might come too soon, but the filly worked so well during the week that Neasham changed her mind.
"They're a great bunch of owners but they were getting a bit overexcited so I poured the cold water on them and said we're not going to go to the Percy Sykes, she's too green," Neasham said.
"But actually she came out of it (her debut) really well and she worked really well on Tuesday morning so it was a bit of a late decision but we decided to accept.
"She's just so exciting."
Ridden by Joao Moreira, Kristilli ($19) scored running away by 1-3/4 lengths over Tiz Invincible ($6) with Kimochi ($4) third.
Is Arrowfield winner Royal Ascot-bound?
Anamoe could have a travelling companion on his trip to England with trainer James Cummings revealing brilliant colt Aft Cabin is under consideration for a start in the Platinum Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.
The three-year-old overcame a troubled run for a spectacular win in Saturday's Arrowfield Stud Stakes (1200m), his class shining through despite missing the start and being checked before the corner.
"He was slow away, he's got horses inside him and outside him babysitting him, he was getting checked at the 450 and he still had to pull to the outside and claim them," Cummings said.
"What an amazing performance."
Aft Cabin bounced back to his best after defeats in the Hobartville Stakes (1400m) and Randwick Guineas (1600m), although Cummings believed spacing the horses' runs, rather than restricting him to sprint trips, had been the key.
In that vein, freshening the colt for a Royal Ascot tilt in June would hold no fears and while Aft Cabin had yet to be inoculated for an overseas trip, Cummings said the window was still open.
"He hasn't (been inoculated) yet but he's got time," Cummings said.
"We've only floated it as an idea. It's a bloody nice idea, but only if the horse is flying and it sets up well.
"He'd be a very interesting contender there."
Godolphin has already flagged its intentions to campaign Anamoe on the world stage before he retires to stud at the end of the season.
Quote of the day: "This makes up for it. But as long as they win, it doesn't really matter if I'm here or not."- Trainer William Haggas on being trackside to see Dubai Honour win the Queen Elizabeth Stakes after watching Addeybb's feats from the UK.
