Star three-year-olds Tom Kitten, Griff and Encap to clash in Eskimo Prince Stakes

On Timeform ratings, only four three-year-olds have higher ratings this season – Cylinder has a peak 123 score, Golden Eagle winner Obamburumai returned 121, Militarize and Coolmore Stud Stakes hero Ozzmosis are on 120.

Tom Kitten wins the Spring Champion Stakes.

Talented trio Tom Kitten, Griff and Encap, among the highest-rated three-year-olds in training, meet first-up in a headline-grabbing clash for the Group 3 $250,000 Silverdale Farm Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Godolphin’s potential superstar Tom Kitten returned a lofty 118 Timeform rating with his stunning Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes win to close out his spring campaign.

Griff reeled off three successive wins including the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas during spring to earn a 116 rating.

Encap, winner of the Group 3 Ming Dynasty Quality, was allocated a 115 Timeform figure in defeat when run down in the final stride by Militarize in the Group 1 Golden Rose back in September.

WHAT A WIN! 🤯

MILITARIZE CLAIMS THE GOLDEN ROSE! 🌹@cwallerracing@[e-mail]/tVdpOLGeo2

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) September 23, 2023

On Timeform ratings, only four three-year-olds have higher ratings this season – Cylinder, a stablemate of Tom Kitten, has a peak 123 score, Japan’s Golden Eagle winner Obamburumai returned 121, Militarize and Coolmore Stud Stakes hero Ozzmosis are on 120.

Griff (right) wins the Caulfield Guineas.

However, it is a reflection of the quality of the Eskimo Prince Stakes field that none of the star-studded trio is favourite in early TAB Fixed Odds betting – Moravia and Caballus share the top line of betting at $5, shading Griff and Encap at $5.50 with Tom Kitten next at $7.

Godolphin trainer James Cummings has kept Tom Kitten on the fresh side for his comeback, giving the colt a barrier trial at Hawkesbury late last month where he ran a close second over 800m.

“I thought ‘Tom’s’ trial was beautiful, it was nice work from him,’’ Cummings said. “He seems ready to go.’’

Tom Kitten did win the Up And Coming Stakes first-up over 1300m last spring when he unleashed a tremendous finishing burst to swamp Kintyre and Encap.

"TOM GOT THE BOB!"

Tom Kitten down the outside in the Up and Coming! 🐈@[e-mail]/djc31EUfws

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) August 26, 2023

The gifted colt is extremely versatile as he demonstrated with his career-best effort when stretched out to 2000m for the Spring Champion Stakes.

Tom Kitten is prominent in early betting for a number of major races this autumn carnival. For example, the boom colt is on the third line of betting at $11 for the $4 million Doncaster Mile (1600m) and equal favourite at $6 with Riff Rocket for the $2 million ATC Australian Derby (2400m) with both races run at Royal Randwick on April 6.

Cummings hinted he is leaning to the Derby and not the Doncaster for Tom Kitten this autumn.

“The Randwick Guineas is an ideal early target and I do think he is a (ATC Australian) Derby horse,’’ Cummings said.

Under the set weights and penalty conditions of the Eskimo Prince, Group 1 winners Griff and Tom Kitten have 60kg and are conceding 1.5kg to 6kg to the rest of the field.

Griff is yet to win first-up in three attempts but trainer Ciaron Maher has given his colt two barrier trials at Warwick Farm to prepare for his comeback, resulting in very good seconds behind topliners Learning To Fly and Pericles.

Gary Portelli’s Encap is also turned up for his return after finishing a close third in the Learning To Fly-Griff trial before he ran boom filly Tiz Invincible to a half length in a Warwick Farm heat last week.

Originally published as Star three-year-olds Tom Kitten, Griff and Encap to clash in Eskimo Prince Stakes