Kingman NZ after winning the 2025 New Zealand Cup Photo by HRNZ
ANYONE who watched Kingman win the iconic NZ Cup just five months ago won’t believe he is an outsider in tomorrow’s $1 million Race by Sport Nation at Cambridge.
Kingman’s NZ Cup win was one of the best performances of the modern era and certainly one of the greatest in the history of the great race.
Simply, if he reproduced that, he would make light work of a horror outside draw at Cambridge.
But the conundrum facing punters is what Kingman will we see at Cambridge?
That’s because his form has been indifferent this year, especially those two well below par runs in a Miracle Mile qualifier and the Mile itself last month.
Straight after the Miracle Mile run, his Cambridge trip was off.
But the five-year-old bounced back so well and so quickly, that changed in 48 hours.
Although Kingman hasn’t raced since the Miracle Mile a month ago, trainer-driver Luke McCarthy insists he’s ticked every box.
“He had the trial last week and did what I asked of him. His heart race was good after it,” he said.
“Now he’s had the trip over and settled in really well, so it’s so far so good.
“Sure I’d have loved a better draw, but we can’t change that.
“All we can do is have him as well as we can, which it seems like he is, and hope luck goes his way in the run.”
After a fairytale finish to 2025 with Kingman and his other star Don Hugo, it’s been a challenging start to 2026.
Although Kingman won the Shepparton Cup (beating Leap To Fame) during an extended Victorian campaign, he has raced seven times this year for one win, a second and a third.
And Don Hugo, who beat Leap To Fame in the Blacks A Fake last December, has also won just one of his five starts this year.
Plans to take him to Perth for next Friday’s $1.25 million Group 1 Nullarbor were shelved last week because of a health setback.
Kingman and Swayzee hold the record for the most wins over Leap To Fame with three.
It’s a leap of faith to think Kingman can make it four given his recent form and awful draw at Cambridge.
PHOTO: HRNZ/Race Images NZ
