An impressive field of eleven sprinters has been taken for Saturday’s Group 1 Kingsford-Smith Cup (1350m) at Doomben and there is a case to be made for nearly every runner.
Le Romain finished a close third in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1200m) a fortnight ago and has opened the $3.90 favourite in Kingsford-Smith Cup betting.
A three-time Group 1 winner, Le Romain resumed in last autumn for seventh in the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) and took plenty of benefit into an impressive run for fourth in the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) on Day 1 of The Championships.
Running a close second to Trapeze Artist in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1200m), the Hard Spun gelding hit the line well a fortnight ago and will enjoy the slight step up in trip on Saturday.
English ($4.70) posted her second career Group 1 win in the Doomben 10,000 and is another horse that should only improve under the conditions of the Kingsford-Smith Cup.
The daughter of Encosta De Lago has been a strong and consistent performer throughout her entire racing career so far and resumed this time for a credible fifth behind Redzel in the Group 2 Challenge Stakes (1000m).
Flying home late to finish second in The Galaxy, she simply got too far back in running in the TJ Smith Stakes and was unable to reel in her rivals, when sixth.
She’ll have plenty of options in transit from the rails draw and she clearly has the class to compete and win at this level.
One of the more interesting runners in the 2018 Kingsford-Smith Cup is quality filly Champagne Cuddles ($6), who is treated well at the weights as the only three-year-old in the field.
Champagne Cuddles enjoyed a meteoric rise to prominence in spring and is unlucky not to have posted a win at the highest level already, having finished second in both the Golden Rose (1400m) and Flight Stakes (1600m) most notably.
She delivered a three-year-old field an easy defeat in the Group 3 Gold Coast Guineas (1200m) first-up and with natural improvement, would not look out of place in the Kingsford-Smith Cup winner’s stall.
Impending ($4.20) and Care To Think ($7.50) are the only other horses currently available at Kingsford-Smith Cup odds of less-than $10, while Spieth ($21) is well and truly worth consideration at a long quote.
The Thorn Park entire has been a notable performer amongst Group 1 company through his recent preparations and has been transferred to the Lindsay Park yard for his current campaign.
Spieth trialled well in the lead-up to his return in the Doomben 10,000 and was caught at the tail of the field in transit, but produced a big turn of foot to run on late for fifth.
The step up in trip looks ideal and he can take a position closer to the pace this weekend from gate 2.