The Kingsford-Smith Cup is typically the most open Group 1 contest of the Brisbane Winter Carnival, and an outstanding field of sprinters will assemble at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Several previous Group 1 winners are engaged, but there is a case to be made for nearly every horse and the Kingsford-Smith Cup looms as a terrific betting race.
You can find my complete 2021 Kingsford-Smith Cup tips below.
Kingsford-Smith Cup – Winner
No. 13 Savatiano – Bet Now: $4.60
This looks the perfect Group 1 target for Savatiano and she will take plenty of beating.
The Street Cry mare has been an outstanding horse for Godolphin throughout her career, but there is no doubt that she has gone to another level in 2021, and she won the Expressway Stakes when resuming before finally realising her top-line potential in the Canterbury Stakes.
She was last seen finishing second, beaten a nose by Kolding in the All Aged Stakes, and she has been kept up to the mark with a really nice trial at Randwick.
Launching from barrier 8, I can’t find a reason why Savatiano won’t be in the finish.
Kingsford-Smith Cup – 2nd
No. 10 Jonker – Bet Now: $13.00
Speaking of horses who have gone to another level recently, Jonker has been kept fresh for his run in the Kingsford-Smith Cup, and he was one to be big winners at Tuesday barrier draw when allocated 4.
The Spirit Of Boom entire was excellent during his two-year-old season, and while he did go off the boil a little during his following season, a move north and into Tony Gollan’s set-up has really brought him back on.
His summer preparation, outstanding and highlighted by a win at the Magic Millions, was franked when he finished third behind Eduardo in a hit-and-run mission in The Galaxy.
The form out of that race has obviously held up and I think that Jonker can and will run a cheeky race on Saturday.
Kingsford-Smith Cup – 3rd
No. 2 Gytrash – Bet Now: $4.00
I am a huge fan of Gytrash, and I firmly believe that he is the classiest horse in the Kingsford-Smith Cup field, but he has drawn barrier 15 and will need everything to go his way.
The Lope De Vega launched himself onto the national Group 1 stage when winning the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes early last year, and he simply hasn’t run a bad race since: placing in each and every start that he has had in the wake.
He returned a nice effort when third in The Goodwood at Morphettville a fortnight ago, keeping all of his best work for late, and I have little doubt that he’ll come on a lot from that run.
Kingsford-Smith Cup – 4th
No. 5 Victorem – Bet Now: $17.00
Victorem has found form around some above-average gallopers this year, and he looks a real chance of running into the Kingsford-Smith Cup first four.
Victorem has been the stable star for Port Macquarie trainer Jenny Graham for several seasons now and carries a record of 23-8:4:4 into Saturday’s feature race.
He finished third behind subsequent Group 1 winner Masked Crusader in the Southern Cross Stakes off a lengthy spell in February, and while he misfired in the Canterbury Stakes, he returned a nice effort to finish third in the Hall Mark Stakes last time out.
He’s had the benefit of a trial in the lead-up to this race and will launch from gate 2.
Kingsford-Smith Cup Tips
- 4 Units straight out #13 Savatiano
- Boxed Trifecta of the selections below