Kingswood has come a long way since joining the team of Gavin Bedggood.
Starting his career in Ireland, Kingswood had a stint with Maddie Raymond at Warrnambool before joining the Bedggood yard in mid-2024, winning at his first two outings at Caulfield, including the Coongy Cup (2000m).
Fast forward to the end of 2026 and Bedggood took a punt and headed to New Zealand with Kingswood where he picked up a Group 1 win at Ellerslie.
Coming off a first-up win at Caulfield over stablemate Just Folk in the Heatherlie Stakes (1700m) last month, Kingswood lines up for his first Group 1 test on Australian soil in the Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Also nominated for the Naturalism Stakes (2000m) on Saturday’s program, Bedggood said it had always been the plan to start in the Underwood.
“I threw in a nom for the Naturalism in case something happened,” Bedggood said.
“He’s as good as I could have him and he’s improved from his first-up run and I suppose Saturday will be a good test to see where he sits against that calibre of horse.”
Kingswood has drawn the widest gate against seven opponents which has been reduced by one following the scratching of Aeliana who remains in Sydney to contest the 7 Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.
Bedggood said Kingswood was fit enough to run well in the Heatherlie Stakes and believes he has come on for the victory.
“He was pretty screwed down first-up but with improvement to come,” Bedggood said.
“He definitely hasn’t regressed. His coat has improved and his last two Monday mornings have been great, so I wouldn’t swap my horse for any other in the race.”
Saturday’s assignment will lead to either the Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 3 or the Might And Power (2000m) at Caulfield a week later.
Kingswood has 55kg in the Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 17 and sits number 20 in the ballot order following the release of weights on Thursday, while the Cox Plate (2000m) at Flemington on October 24 has not been ruled out.
“Everything is on the table at the moment, but his next two runs will tell us where we sit,” Bedggood said.
“My gut feeling tells me he’s not sharp enough at 10 furlongs for a Cox Plate.”
