‘Airborne’ Tom Kitten has trainer James Cummings brimming with confidence ahead of 2025 Doncaster Mile

“In my mind we have Tom Kitten absolutely perfect to be rock-hard fit and peaking for the 1600m,’’ Cummings said.

“In a big field, horses might get held up briefly but most of the time they get into the clear and get a chance.

“Tom Kitten is airborne this preparation, I don’t think we could have him better for the Doncaster.’’

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Cummings conceded the Doncaster was “full of depth and not looking like a huge winning opportunity for Pericles” but felt he could run another competitive race.

“You can rely on Pericles to be running well,’’ he said.

“He ran so well in the race last year (second) and when horses run well, they tend to run well again the next year.”

Cummings was also upbeat about talented three-year-old Traffic Warden’s chances in the TJ Smith Stakes (1200m).

“I do feel like he’s training like a horse who is ready to run a race,’’ the trainer said.

“His challenge is that this preparation is not ideal, but we see a horse who is capable of running well in a TJ Smith. In two weeks, he could really jump out of the ground in the All-Aged Stakes.”

• EXPERT TIPS: Professional punter James Molony’s race-by-race tips and analysis for Randwick on Saturday

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HALL of Famer Chris Waller could claim the coveted record for most Group 1 wins by a trainer in a season at Royal Randwick on Saturday – but he needs to make an unprecedented clean sweep of the four majors to achieve the feat.

Even so, Waller has a very real opportunity of winning all four Group 1 races, saddling up the favourite in three of them.

In latest TAB Fixed Odds betting for Day One of The Championships, Waller’s Group 1 favourites are Wodeton ($2.80) for the $1 million Sires Produce Stakes (1400m), Joliestar ($4) for the $3 million TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) and Aeliana ($3) in the $2 million ATC Australian Derby (2400m).

For the $4 million Doncaster Mile (1600m), the champion trainer has five entries with Firestorm ($10) the shortest-priced in betting.

Waller has already trained 15 Group 1 winners for the 2024-25 season and is closing in on his all-time record of 18 Group 1 wins set in 2018-19.

Legendary trainers Tommy Smith (17 wins in 1979-80) and Bart Cummings (16 wins in 1974-75) are the only others to prepare more than 15 big race winners in a season.

• ‘Best 2yo I’ve had’: Lees pays Rivellino the ultimate compliment

Wodeton is Waller’s only entry for the Sires with the high profile Coolmore colt looking to go one better after his close second in the Golden Slipper to Marhoona.

“He has come through the Slipper really well and the 1400m will be no problem,’’ Waller said.

“You don’t have to overtrain them after their ‘Grand Final’. He’s a colt, he’s a young horse and is thriving.’’

Joliestar and Switzerland give Waller two strong winning chances in the TJ Smith Stakes.

Waller said Joliestar had come through her Newmarket win in great order.

“Joliestar has travelled back from Melbourne really well and she has had a good enough time between runs. She has got her confidence back,’’ he said.

“With Switzerland, not much has gone his way. The blinkers go on him. He is a good horse.’’

Aeliana is attempting to become only the second filly this century after Shamrocker (2011) to win the ATC Australian Derby.

• Jett Hatton’s TJ Smith Stakes runner-by-runner form analysis and tips

Waller said Aeliana had mixed it with the “boys” all autumn and deserved her chance in the Derby.

“She has got the right form lines and she gets 2kg off for being a filly,’’ Waller said. “The only unknown is the distance and the way she is racing, it looks like the 2400m might suit her.”

• Clinton Payne’s Australian Derby runner-by-runner form analysis and tips

The Doncaster is one of the most open in years and Waller is chasing a record-equalling seventh win in the race with Firestorm, Moira, Anisette, Militarize and Kovalica.

“Firestorm gets in with a nice light weight (50kg),’’ he said.

“Moria is a talented horse. The Doncaster is the right race for her. Anisette is not as good as Moira but Anisette looks the better of the two in terms of how she has done since she has been here.

“Militarize is third-up and ready to peak and Kovalica’s sections in the George Ryder were very good.’’

• Clinton Payne’s Doncaster Mile runner-by-runner form analysis and tips

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THE maestro Les Bridge is unlike most of his rivals and wants the Randwick track to stay in the soft range for Celestial Legend’s attempt to go back-to-back in the Doncaster Mile.

“I don’t want the track to dry out,’’ Bridge said. “Celestial Legend needs a slow (soft) track.

“The horse seems good, he’s working good, so I’m hoping he can race up to his best.’’

Celestial Legend has been unplaced in both runs this autumn and is out to $51 for the Doncaster – which is a far cry to 12 months ago when the grey started second favourite and scored an outstanding win from Pericles and Militarize.

Perhaps it is a measure of how strong the Doncaster field is when Pericles ($26) and Militarize ($41) are also at big odds.

• Racing Confidential: Doncaster deserves Grand Slam status

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CHAMPION jockey James McDonald can’t fault Hong Kong superstar Romantic Warrior going into the Group 1 $8 million Dubai Turf (1800m) on World Cup night at Meydan in Dubai early Sunday morning (AEST).

McDonald rode Romantic Warrior in a track galloper earlier this week and said: “He’s excellent, he hasn’t missed a beat.’’

Romantic Warrior is coming off a narrow loss to Forever Young in the Saudi Cup last start and is rated a $1.40 chance to win a 10th Group 1, seven with McDonald in the saddle.

“He seems a lot more relaxed here in Dubai than he was in Saudi Arabia,’’ McDonald said.

McDonald is missing Day One of The Championships to stay with Romantic Warrior, the number one-ranked horse in the world.

“I’m just lucky to be a small part of his journey and it’s definitely worthwhile being here to partner him, even if it means missing a big day or two back home,’’ he said.

• J-Mac confident Romantic Warrior can press for more Group 1 success

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5 YEARS AGO

Nettoyer, a $41 outsider, gave trainer Wendy Roche her biggest moment in racing when she won the Doncaster Mile before an empty grandstand at Royal Randwick due to the pandemic. Champion sprinter Nature Strip won the first of three successive TJ Smith Stakes when he led throughout to beat Santa Ana Lane by two lengths. Quick Thinker gave trainer Murray Baker his fifth win in the ATC Australian Derby and the Peter Snowden-trained King’s Legacy won the ATC Sires.

10 YEARS AGO

Chris Waller scored the third of four successive Doncaster wins when Kermadec defeated Japanese raider Real Impact. The Team Hawkes-trained super sprinter Chautauqua scored the first of his three successive TJ Smith Stakes wins with a typically powerful late finishing surge to reel in Lord Of The Sky right on the line. The Baker-trained Mongolian Khan became the first horse since the great Bonecrusher (1985) to complete the NZ Derby-ATC Australian Derby double. The Snowden-trained Pride Of Dubai came off his Blue Diamond win to record another Group 1 win in the ATC Sires.

20 YEARS AGO

The late Guy Walter prepared a historic Doncaster Mile trifecta when Patezza ran down stablemates Court’s In Session and Danni Martine in a memorable finish. Gai Waterhouse finally won the race named in honour of her late father when Shamekha won the TJ Smith Stakes. Eremein, ridden by Corey Brown, followed his Rosehill Guineas win with a dominant effort to take out the ATC (then AJC) Australian Derby and the Waterhouse-trained Fashions Afield won the ATC Sires.

Originally published as ‘Airborne’ Tom Kitten has trainer James Cummings brimming with confidence ahead of 2025 Doncaster Mile