A lack of suitable restricted races in the right distance range forced Gavin Bedggood to head to a Stakes race with promising imported galloper Kingswood.
And after success in the Group 3 Coongy Cup (2000m) at Caulfield on Wednesday, Bedggood says he will now raise the bar further into the Melbourne Spring Carnival.
Next step on five-year-old’s journey is expected to be the Group 3 Bendigo Cup (2400m) on October 30 followed by the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) at Flemington on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Sent out the $2.60 betting sites favourite under John Allen, Kingswood scored by 1-¾ lengths from Berkeley Square ($4.20) with Star Vega ($7.50) a short-head away third.
Kingswood was having his 11th race start on Wednesday and registered his third win having scored at his previous start at Sandown in benchmark 78 grade last month.
“I really wanted to go to a benchmark 84, but there was just nothing on the calendar, although there was a benchmark 78 here today,” Bedggood said.
“But it would have forced me to claim on him and you know, he’ s a five-year-old stallion and he’ s a little bit awkward and I just wanted to keep Johnny on as he knows the horse well.
“So, it’s good to get a result.”
It was a fairly easy watch for Bedggood and connections as Kingswood raced handy to the speed while his main danger, Berkeley Square settled in last place, in a slowly run race.
“It all pretty much went to script really,” Bedggood said.
“He lobbed into a nice spot and Johnny popped him out of that three-wide line, just to make sure nothing hemmed us away down the side.
“He’s as good a horse as I’ve ever had everything to do with. He’ s a very good stayer, he’ s got the best set of lungs and I’ d be interested to hear what Johnny’s feedback is.”