3 minute read

Like the F-14 jet fighter he is named after, the Wandjina three-year-old blasted off to the front after making light of his wide alley, throttling down midrace to an uncontested lead before flicking back on the afterburners in the straight.

Tom Cat  immediately put a big space between him and his rivals to go and score as he pleased, even if standby starter Fountain Of Fame (Daniel Moor) did pare down the margin to three and a half lengths. Kruger (Matthew Kellady) filled the last minor spot another one and a quarter lengths away.

Punted down to $18, Tom Cat, who races in the Thai colours of 2017 Singapore Horse of the Year Infantry, clocked the smart time of 1min 5.36secs for the 1100m on the Polytrack, a clear gauge of his untapped potential given he was only at his race launch.

Winning trainer Lee Freedman, who took over Infantry from Alwin Tan after his last run when fifth in the inaugural Group 1 Kranji Mile last year, but never got to get him in his racing plates, was pleased he had trained a winner for Krit Chisatteni in those silks.

"I've trained a few winners for Krit but I don't think there was any in those colours," said Freedman.

"Unfortunately, we had to retire Infantry. He was a really good horse, we tried to keep him going but it became a losing battle. I think he's somewhere in Thailand in a small farm run by Krit, enjoying his retirement.

"Krit bought this horse (Tom Cat) from New Zealand. I was keen to get him as he's a racy type, but he's totally different from Infantry. He is a small horse and is bred for speed, that's his caper.

"He's by Wandjina who was an (2015) Australian Guineas (1600m) winner and trained by Gai Waterhouse. Wandjina is by Snitzel and that horse (Tom Cat) is exactly like his grandsire, compact and nuggety.

"He showed a bit of speed at his trials here, and I told Joey (Azzopardi) since he was drawn awkwardly to use his speed.

"He's been in work for a while, I think he's had two or three preps because he had to be gelded."

Azzopardi, who flies back to his native Perth for a first hit-and-run visit since he began riding in Singapore in April, couldn't have hoped for a better send-off.

"He's a hard-going horse and we decided to keep it simple," said Azzopardi who was snapping a mini run of outs with his last win coming aboard Strap Marks on July 28, which was one week after his biggest career win in the Group 1 Singapore Derby with Freedman's Sun Marshal.

"He led nicely but he took a while to come back beneath me. He had a nice breather and won well in the end.

"Lee had him rock-hard fit tonight. He knows what he's doing.

"I have five rides at Belmont tomorrow. (Trainer) Daniel Pearce rang me up and asked me if I would be keen to come over for just the one day.

"There are a few good chances, no standouts, it'll be a busy weekend for sure (he flies back for two rides at the Sunday meeting at Kranji, Stunning Cat and Siam Royal Orchid).

"I might do it again in a fortnight as there is no Sunday meeting then (September 29)."

With the Belmont races part of the Perth simulcast programme on Saturday, viewers can catch Azzopardi at the last two of his five rides, namely Grand Design (3.55pm) and Pushin' Shapes (trained by Pearce, 4.30pm). His other rides are in earlier races that are not simulcast here, Tunis, Miss Flamboyance and Time To Hunt.