Coming into Saturday’s $750,000 G2 MRC Zipping Classic (2400m) off somewhat fresh legs, having not raced since winning the G1 MRC Caulfield Cup (2400m) for weeks back, the Gavin Bedggood trained Kingswood (GB) got the better of Melbourne Cup placegetter Juja Kibo (IRE) to secure his sixth black type win.
Sent off favourite with many punters feeling the grey could record consecutive stakes victories, jockey John Allen settled the 7yo in sixth position, racing one off the fence.
With last year’s G1 VRC Oaks winner Strictly Business taking up the running and going many lengths clear with the Symon Wilde trained Darkbonee sat in second with Ciaron Maher's pair of Juja Kibo and Middle Earth racing in third and fourth respectively.
As Strictly Business led the field into the final bend, Juja Kibo was presenting himself, with the Aidan O’Brein trained Small Fry (IRE), a last tart second behind Melbourne Cup winner Point Of Law (GB) in the Geelong Cup, also starting to make his presence known down the outside.
Coming even wider was Allen aboard Kingswood as the dual G1 winner who set out after Juja Kibo with the pair pulling away to battle it out.
Getting his head in front right on the line, Kingswood took his over all record to eight wins and five placed efforts from 25 starts with earnings of $5,400,148.
Zipping Classic | Kingswood All hail the King! A Caulfield Cup winner and now a Zipping Classic winner ?? ?? Ch. 78/68, Foxtel 529, Kayo or via our app REPLAYS: https://t.co/HEhdpozFmy https://t.co/t4GEUCI5pi
— Racing.com (@Racing) November 14, 2026
“I watched him gallop here Tuesday morning and thought he was close to a good thing off his work, and then watching the rain unfold this morning, it was like drawing barrier 20 in the Caulfield Cup all over again, I just thought his hopes were dashed,” said Bedggood.
“The track received an upgrade on our way here today, and I had a good walk, and I thought it was probably getting towards a soft six. So my confidence has grown since he's been on track.
“Great ride once again from Johnny. He got on the back of the right horses and let them do all the legwork, his three wins this preparation, he's been able to get to the outside of horses and build, and I think that's been a big key to him too. Johnny's got the keys to him, and he'll be coming to Hong Kong with us.”
As for the plans moving forward to his tilt at the G1 Hong Kong Vase, Bedggood indicated he will head over in just over two weeks.
“He'll fly over on Monday the 30th of November, I think it gives him 13 days to sort of settle in and tighten the screws. He'll have one good gallop over there, I guess, and have him in tip top order hopefully.”
Building an outstanding relation with the grey, jockey John Allen was very complimentary of the effort.
“Big effort to peak for the Caulfield Cup and then back again today.
“When the Heavy 8 came up, I thought he was struggling on the ground down the back when it was chopped out, but I was happy to get out into those wider lanes from about the 600 (metre mark) and once he got out into that ground, when he hit the front, I’d say we got a good half-length in front, they were hitting back on us, he got the job done.
“He’s always got great manners. He was just sitting down a little bit in the gates there and we were a bit slower than usual but he is really pinging the lids over the last couple of days.
“Other than that, he is a seven-year-old bull and he goes around like a little pony. He’s a great horse to be riding.”
Asked if he is looking forward to heading to Hong Kong with Kingswood, Allen was clearly looking forward to the prospect.
“I have never been, so I am looking forward to that. As long as he pulls up good, I’m sure Gavin and his team won’t send him there if he hasn’t pulled up 100 per-cent. Hopefully if he is on his A-game he can put on a good show there.”
Kingswood is a half-brother to Eldar Eldarov, winner of both the G1 Doncaster St Leger and Irish St Leger, being from stakes-winning Sea The Stars mare All At Sea, a half-sister to stakes-winner Alwilda, the dam of Champion Mare and six-time G1-winning Arc de Triomphe heroine Alpinista.
Kingswood is one of two G1 winners from the one and only Northern Hemisphere bred crop of foals by 2018 European Horse of the Year Roaring Lion, who died tragically at Cambridge Stud in New Zealand in 2019 before he could cover a mare.
