It took little convincing to get jockey John Allen to Rosehill for one ride on Saturday, as Kingswood is set for a well-planned heist in the Hill Stakes.
Cranbourne trainer Gavin Bedggood has used the six-year-old’s first preparation with him as a blueprint for this spring and a million dollar payday.
Kingswood won at Sandown last year before taking out the Coongy Stakes at his second run for Bedggood, but there are two million reasons for his Sydney focus this time around.
“This race [the Hill Stakes] is worth ten times more than the Coongy. It’s a good opportunity,” Bedggood said. “He is a hard horse to place, with Via Sistina and Treasurethe Moment being aimed at different races in Melbourne for the same owner. This was an easier option for really good money.”
“The other option was the Turnbull, where he wasn’t really suited, or the Coongy again.”
“John has worked with this bloke a fair bit, and when I told him this race was where he was going, he was happy to come up with him. He really thinks he is top class.”
Kingswood has been to Sydney once before for a midfield finish in the Five Diamonds at Rosehill last spring.
Bedggood labelled Kingswood as possibly the best horse in his stable but has had to be patient with him after a cannon bone fracture, which now has a screw in it, caused him to miss the autumn.
He ran in a brutally run 1700m handicap at Flemington on his return last month, where he beat all but Golden Path, which subsequently went on to be placed behind Sir Delius and Buckaroo in the Underwood Stakes.
“I was pretty happy with that run, given the long break, and he has certainly come on from it,” Bedggood said. “He is drawn to get the right run on the weekend.”
Kingswood was rated a $10 chance by bookmakers after coming up with gate six, with Lindermann, the likely leader, a $2.45 favourite despite drawing the outside barrier of 14.
