Gear change to drive a snappier Tom

At the mile, most trainers concede that defeating Autumn Glow at Flemington on Saturday is a big ask and Sam Freedman is in that category but if there is an improver to be there behind her, Tom Kitten could be the one.

A gear change, back to successful territory, and running back into form can point to improvement for the enigmatic gelding.

Tom Kitten lines up in the Group 1 Champions Mile (1600m) against tougher competition but the race is there and the Freedmans are going into it with the frame of mind of 'why not'.

"She's a superstar," Sam said with understandably little more to add of his opinion of Autumn Glow.

"We are getting the blinkers on Tom. He hasn't had them on his whole career so we thought now might be the time.

"We need to make up, I don't know, how many lengths to match with them but he's in good form.

"He is a two-time All-Star Mile winner, so it feels like the right move."

A last start second-placing in the Group 2 Craven Plate (1800m) at Randwick has brough Tom Kitten back to a glimpse of his winning form but a step up to 2000m in the Champions Stakes was less ideal.

"His record here at the mile is excellent and it feels like a more suitable race for him," Freedman added.

"He has run at 2000m plenty of times in his career and it didn't feel like strongly run 2000s are his go.

"With horses coming out of the Cox Plate, they're going to go hard and he might just be left wanting."