Classy import Kingswood surges to Coongy Cup win at Caulfield

Gavin Bedggood has a couple of Group 3 options in mind for import Kingswood after his easy win in the Coongy Cup at Caulfield.

John Allen guides Kingswood to victory in the Coongy Cup at Caulfield on Wednesday. Picture: Scott Barbour/Racing Photos via Getty Images

By Brad Waters and Gilbert Gardiner

Cranbourne trainer Gavin Bedggood said Kingswood was “as good a horse as I’ve had anything to do with” after the import comfortably claimed the Coongy Cup at Caulfield.

The endorsement was high praise considering Bedggood won the Group 1 Moir Stakes at The Valley last month with the smart sprinter Mornington Glory.

Bedggood has only had Kingswood for two starts but the grey progressed from a Benchmark 78 win to Group 3 company in Wednesday’s feature.

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Jockey John Allen parked Kingswood behind the slow speed before sprinting best from the home turn, holding off Berkeley Square, who was not disgraced after coming from the back of the field.

“It all pretty much went to script really,” Bedggood said.

“He didn’t look all that comfortable getting around the corner but he won well.

“The second horse is a proper horse too so he’s done a good job to come from a (Benchmark) 78 to this company.

“He’ll still improve out of the run too.

“He’s put on 20kg since he’s arrived with me and he’s a horse that’s just doing well in the stable.”

The King of the Coongy Cup! 👑

Kingswood destroys his rivals in the G3 feature & makes it back-to-back victories for @GavinBedggood 🏆 @JohnnyA_24pic.twitter.com/97cweKcnCP

— Racing.com (@Racing) October 16, 2024

Bedggood said he would discuss Kingswood’s next move with Allen but said the Group 3 Bendigo Cup on October 29 was five-year-old’s next target.

Bedggood added the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Flemington on Stakes Day was another option for the son of Roaring Lion.

Meanwhile, Lindsay Park gang tackled the Listed Debutant Stakes with five of the 13 starters in the field and ended up with impressive winner Miss Celine and third placed Winmar.

Winmar looked a winner inside the last 100m before Miss Celine surged past, while Bubion, trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman, grabbed second position.

Lindsay Park has won the Debutant seven times since 2000.

Trainer Ben Hayes lauded the development of Miss Celine, a sister to 2018 Blue Diamond Stakes runner-up Enbihaar.

The King of the Coongy Cup! 👑

Kingswood destroys his rivals in the G3 feature & makes it back-to-back victories for @GavinBedggood 🏆 @JohnnyA_24pic.twitter.com/97cweKcnCP

— Racing.com (@Racing) October 16, 2024

“She’s kept doing everything right in all her trials and her last trial in particular we were happy with the improvement, she hit the line really well,” he said.

“It was a very impressive win, very good visually to the eye… half the battle here is having them do it correctly.

“She actually got it wrong – she was out the back, dropped the bit and Blake (Shinn) did a great job to take his time.

“I’ll have to watch it a couple of times, because we had a couple more good runs in behind as well, which is really nice to see.”

Meanwhile, Whiskey On The Hill kept Melbourne Cup ambitions alive with a strong 2400m Benchmark 84 win at Caulfield.

The Michael Moroney and Glenn Thompson-trained stayer, 48th in the Cup order of entry, will be aimed at the Bendigo Cup potential to qualify for the first Tuesday in November.

Originally published as Classy import Kingswood surges to Coongy Cup win at Caulfield