Trainer Gavin Bedggood is set to reach a new milestone at Caulfield with his inaugural runner in a ‘major’ race.

While he has previously trained Group 1 contenders and winners, Kingswood’s participation in the Caulfield Cup (2400m) on Saturday marks his first in this elite category.

The races considered ‘majors’ are traditionally the Caulfield Cup, the Melbourne Cup, the Cox Plate, and the Golden Slipper, with The Everest more recently joining this prestigious group.

It is fitting that the Caulfield Cup should represent Bedggood’s first ‘major’ engagement, given his history of riding trackwork at the venue during his formative years.

“I rode work there as a kid when I was 16 years old,” Bedggood shared.

“And I grew up at Cranbourne and remember horses like Sky Heights walking around of a morning, and that would be one of my first memories of the Caulfield Cup. It’s exciting to be a part of it.”

Kingswood is arriving at Saturday’s event in strong recent form.

He secured a victory first-up in the Heatherlie Stakes (1700m) and subsequently finished fourth twice at weight-for-age level, in the Underwood Stakes and last Saturday’s Might And Power.

Bedggood indicated that the horse’s preparation has proceeded without any issues.

“It’s been a faultless campaign,” Bedggood stated.

“He hasn’t had a bad blood, he hasn’t had an unsound day. We’ve run in all the races we’ve wanted to along the way and this has been the Grand Final that we’ve picked. He knew he’d had a run Sunday morning after the Might And Power, but we were very happy on Tuesday. What will be, will be.”

Kingswood is slated to start from the second-widest barrier on Saturday, assuming no emergencies gain entry into the field.

Bedggood acknowledged this is not ideal but suggested it would permit the entire to be settled quietly in the run, a change from his prominent positions in his last two starts.

“He’s gone forward by default at his last two starts,” Bedggood explained.

“He’s drawn wide in small fields with a lack of tempo on paper and he’s been left there, whereas first-up he was third or fourth pair back. He’s on trial at a mile-and-a-half (2400m), so we’ll just want to let the speed go, find a good spot, midfield or second half, get a good resting run and hopefully he’ll be there at the finish.”

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