Moet & Chandon Spring Champion Stakes: Tom Kitten wins the Group 1 feature worth $2MILLION
- Tom Kitten won Group 1 emphatically at Royal Randwick
- The stylish colt took the lead in the home straight and never looked unsettled
- Jockey Adam Hyeronimus rewarded for patient ride on favorite
Tom Kitten has convincingly won the Group 1 Moet & Chandon Spring Champion Stakes at Royal Randwick over 2000 metres.
Jockey Adam Hyeronimus provided a patient ride, and when the promising Godolphin colt took the lead in the home straight, the $2.40 favorite would never be in trouble again.
The hoop also collected $1.15 million in prize money after a comfortable greeting.
Remarkably, it was the 41st success in Group 1 for James Cummings and the third for Hyeronimus.
Cummings would also have been relieved as Tom Kitten had had no luck in his three previous runs, but when push came to shove he performed in a big way.
Adam Hyeronimus looked composed before riding the favorite Tom Kitten in the Moet & Chandon Spring Champion Stakes – he then showed his class in the Group 1 race
When Adam Hyeronimus took the lead in the home straight, there could only be one winner (the hoop is pictured, after his impressive run)
From 12pm, eager punters walked through the gates before enjoying the Moet & Chandon Spring Champion Stakes Day
When it came to the minor placings, the Chris Waller-trained Cap Ferrat ($3.70) finished second, with Ganbare ($3.50) in third.
Previous winners of the prestigious Spring Champion Stakes include highly regarded Kiwi Sharp ‘N’ Smart and Profondo, in what was only his third career start in 2021.
On Saturday, eager punters were spotted making their way through the gates in Sydney’s east from 12pm, with the first race – the Midway Handicap – at 12.30pm over 1100 metres.
Kiwi sprinter Eye Pea Oh set the tone early for star jockey Jason Collett, who also rode Tutta La Vita in the main race at 4pm, before The Invitation at 4.45pm over 1400 metres.
MORE TO COME