It’s been a successful New Zealand raid for the Gavin Bedggood-trained Kingswood, and the grey entire will be looking to end it on a high when he heads to Ellerslie on Saturday.
The son of Roaring Lion won first-up in New Zealand on Boxing Day at Ellerslie in the Gr.1 Zabeel Classic (2000m) before finishing runner-up to Legarto in last month’s Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa.
The ledger is now one apiece between the pair, with Legarto running third in the Zabeel Classic, and Bedggood is hoping Kingswood can once again have the Ken and Bev Kelso-trained mare’s measure when they return to Ellerslie on Champions Day to contest the Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m).
“I have got full respect for her and she beat us fair and square last start,” Bedggood said. “We are racing back right-handed, which I know is my horse’s advantage, and hopefully back on a track with a little bit more of a forgiving surface can help us.”
Bedggood has been rapt with what has turned into a lucrative campaign and he said he would love to return to New Zealand in the future if the opportunity presented itself.
“It’s been a well worthwhile trip, and we have been very well looked after,” he said. “Mike Rogers, who has accommodated us for the last 11 weeks at Pukekohe, has bent over backwards to help us. It has been good.
“I was over there a week leading up to Christmas and I did 10 days after the sales and all my riders have done a two-week block each. It has been a little bit testing in that regard, but it has been a fruitful trip, and I would have no hesitation doing it again.”
Kingswood is set to return to Australia following Saturday’s race and Bedggood is looking forward to tackling some elite-level targets on home soil with the six-year-old, but he has yet to lock down what they will be.
“He will fly out on Sunday and head back to Victoria,” he said. “He will be nominated for the Australian Cup (Gr.1, 2000m) and a few different races in Sydney, but we might put him aside and prep him up for Brisbane.”
While he will be chasing Group One glory and the lion’s share of the $1 million purse on offer in the Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes, Bedggood will also have a couple of runners at Flemington on Saturday.
Jennilala will be seeking to defend her crown in the Gr.3 Matron Stakes (1600m), while in form gelding Castellar will contest the Herald Sun Plate (1100m).
“Jennilala won that race 12 months ago,” Bedggood said. “She is deep into her campaign whereas when she went into it last year she was first-up. I am hopeful more than confident of her winning, but she ran well a fortnight ago.
“Castellar is in great form. He was gallant in defeat last start, he probably went a bit too quick. Although it is a step up in grade, he drops in weight, and he will be very competitive in that race.”