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Bedggood: Kingswood will be "highly competitive" in overseas Group 1
Connor Scanlon • December 24th, 2025 2:12 pm
Cranbourne-based trainer Gavin Bedggood has taken his first horse overseas with Kingswood making the trip to New Zealand for the Group 1 Zabeel Classic (2000m) on Boxing Day.
The six-year-old has drawn barrier 7 and is currently $7.50 with Sportsbet to win the $200,000 race.
When asked about why he is travelling overseas with a horse for the first time in his training career, Bedggood admitted that it was a myriad of reasons.
“New Zealand made contact with me about maybe bringing him over for the autumn and I’d seen this race on Boxing Day,” the trainer told SENTrack & RSN’s Giddy Up.
“He didn’t have a deep spring – he only had the four runs – there’s still plenty of juice left in the tank.
“He’s got a very good pedigree and realistically he’s not going to be a supported horse in Australia with his credentials, so if he was able to come over to New Zealand and win a Group 1, it might lead to something once his racing days are finished.”
Kingswood most recently finished fourth in the Ballarat Cup, bringing good form into the New Zealand Group 1, but Bedggood is wary of multiple horses who are right in the market to win the Zabeel Classic.
Despite the caution though, the trainer is still confident that his horse could prevail victorious.
“Waitak and El Vencedor, they look the main two, but you’ve probably got to have respect for horses like La Crique and Legarto,” Bedggood admitted.
“(Kingswood) hasn’t missed a beat (since arriving in New Zealand), his temperature’s normal, he’s eating great, he’s arrived in really good order.
“He’s going to be highly competitive I think, he’s going to put himself in the right position in running and give himself every chance.”
If the grey proves to be successful in the Group 1, Bedggood has revealed that Kingswood may stay in New Zealand for the Group 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) on February 7, 2026.
“If he’s to come out and win the race, there is another Group 1 option in the first week of February (Herbie Dyke Stakes).”
Waitak is the $2.80 favourite to win the Group 1 Zabeel Classic.
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