Kingswood’s journey from a €130,000 yearling purchase to Caulfield Cup winner reached its greatest moment on Saturday, 17 October, when the British-bred grey overcame barrier 17 to give Gavin Bedggood the biggest victory of his training career.
Ridden by John Allen, the seven-year-old started at $26 and defeated Saint George by half a length in the 150th running of the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m). The victory rewarded owners Glynn and Jane Davies and a preparation built around the October feature.
The result also delivered a notable quinella for the late Roaring Lion, sire of both Kingswood and Saint George. Roger Varian’s Enfjaar finished third, completing a European-bred trifecta.
John Allen Overcomes Barrier 17
An outside draw left Allen with decisions to make early. Kingswood initially found cover three-wide but was exposed from the 1400 metres, with Saint George positioned closer to the rail.
As runners advanced from behind, Allen allowed them to pass rather than ask Kingswood to hold his position. He brought the grey wide into the straight, reached the lead inside the final 200 metres and held off Saint George.
The victory also vindicated Bedggood’s confidence in Kingswood’s ability to stay 2400 metres. His previous attempt at the distance had produced a fifth in the 2024 Zipping Classic on heavy ground, a performance the trainer believed did not reflect the horse’s true staying ability.
The race was also marked by a serious fall involving Half Yours and Ohope Wins. Half Yours regained his feet, but Ohope Wins suffered a fatal injury and was euthanised. Jockeys Mark Zahra and Jye McNeil were taken to hospital and subsequently escaped serious injury.
Racing Victoria stewards concluded their inquiry on 20 October, finding that the incident could not be attributed to careless riding by any individual jockey.
From Ireland to Australia: Kingswood’s Road to the Cup
Glynn Davies purchased Kingswood for €130,000 at the 2021 Goffs Orby Yearling Sale. The colt began racing in Ireland, winning a maiden at Cork during his first seven starts before moving to Australia.
Two unplaced appearances for Maddy Raymond preceded his transfer to Bedggood, whose stable has since guided him to Group 1 success in two countries.
The first breakthrough came in the Zabeel Classic (2000m) at Ellerslie in December 2025. Bedggood had identified the New Zealand campaign as an opportunity when suitable races closer to home were limited.
After a spell, Kingswood returned in August to win the Listed Heatherlie Handicap (1700m) at Caulfield. Fourth placings in the Underwood Stakes (1800m) and Might And Power Stakes (2000m) followed, providing the final steps towards his Caulfield Cup assignment.
For Bedggood, a former jockey who turned to training in 2017, the victory was his third at Group 1 level. Mornington Glory supplied his first in the 2024 Moir Stakes, while Kingswood has delivered the next two.
The Caulfield Cup was his most significant success yet, rewarding a campaign shaped around a specific target rather than a series of individual races.
Kingswood’s Pedigree: Roaring Lion and a Classic Staying Family
Kingswood is by the late Roaring Lion, whose limited stud career continues to produce notable results. The Caulfield Cup quinella was particularly significant, with both Kingswood and runner-up Saint George representing the stallion.
His dam, All At Sea, won three Listed races in France. A daughter of Sea The Stars, she also produced Eldar Eldarov, winner of the English and Irish St Legers.
Further back in the family, All At Sea is a half-sister to the dam of Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Alpinista.
Kingswood therefore comes from a family with an established record of producing high-class middle-distance and staying performers. That background made his eventual success over 2400 metres less surprising, even if the path to the Caulfield Cup was far from straightforward.
His pedigree provided the foundation, but his racing career developed through several stages: an Irish maiden victory, a move to Australia, a change of stable and a successful New Zealand campaign.
The €130,000 yearling purchase ultimately became a dual Group 1 winner, demonstrating how a thoroughbred’s racing record can develop well beyond its initial sale.
A Landmark Victory for Bedggood and the Davies Family
Kingswood’s Caulfield Cup success was also a significant result for Glynn and Jane Davies, whose ownership has continued through the horse’s international racing career.
The victory came in a milestone edition of the race. According to Racing Victoria and the Melbourne Racing Club, the 2026 Caulfield Cup offered a record $6 million in prizemoney, with the combined value of prizemoney and trophies reaching $6.55 million. Winning the 150th running added another distinction to Kingswood’s achievement and marked a career-defining result for Bedggood and the Davies family.
For Bedggood, the victory highlighted the value of recognising a horse’s potential and identifying the right opportunities as that potential develops.
Kingswood’s career offers an example of the possibilities available beyond the yearling market.
Buyers interested in horses with established racing records can explore the tried horses currently listed through Thoroughbred Sales.
His next start remains unconfirmed, with Bedggood indicating that Kingswood may have finished his spring campaign. The Australian Cup has also been mentioned as a possible autumn target.
Whatever comes next, Kingswood has delivered the race his preparation was built around. From a €130,000 yearling at Goffs to a Group 1 winner on both sides of the Tasman, his Caulfield Cup victory stands as the defining achievement of a racing career shaped by patient ownership, international campaigning and careful placement.
