UPDATE: 2025 Queensland Derby Day at Eagle Farm Postponed After Race 5 including Kingsford Smith Cup.
UPDATE: Due to visibility concerns forcing Saturday’s Eagle Farm meeting abandonment, both the Group 1 Queensland Derby and G1 Kingsford Smith Cup have been rescheduled to run next Saturday, June 7, creating a spectacular triple-feature alongside the G1 Queensland Oaks!
Elite level racing at the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival heads to Eagle Farm Racecourse on Saturday with a double-shot of Group 1 action including the Kingsford Smith Cup 2025 where Chris Waller‘s Newmarket Handicap winning mare Joliestar is favourite.
Joliestar heads betting on this year’s Group 1 $1 million Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m), which is the traditional lead-up into Queensland’s richest race – the Group 1 $3 million Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) back at the track on June 14.
The four-year-old daughter of Zoustar is out to be the first mare since Black Caviar in 2011 to beat home her male counterparts in the event, and she comes off a lead-up second to Jimmysstar in Sydney’s Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m).
Her best run this prep saw her salute down the Flemington straight in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) back on March 5, but with winning form up to a mile the Kingsford Smith Cup distance is a non-issue for the $3.9 million earner.
Joliestar is installed at a current quote of $3 through Ladbrokes.com.au despite drawing wider out with gate 13 for jockey James McDonald to overcome.
Both Waller and McDonald chase their first success in the event.
The danger sitting at Kingsford Smith Cup odds of $4.80 to return to winning form second-up is former The Everest champion Giga Kick for Clayton Douglas.
Drawn in gate 10 with Mark Zahra continuing associations, the now five-year-old son of Scissor Kick hasn’t won a race in over two years with his last turf triumph being in the 2023 Group 1 Doomben 10,000.
He resumed on May 10 at Morphettville running a close third as the beaten favourite in the Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m) in South Australia with improvement expected in Brisbane on Saturday.
Rounding out the single-figure fancies in the markets at $7 is Benedetta with Jason Warren‘s smart mare drawn well in barrier six with Jamie Melham booked for the ride.
The five-year-old daughter of Hellbent has a strong 1300m record (3:2-0-0) and is a graduate out of the Doomben 10,000 from May 17 when only 1.5 lengths fourth to Sunshine In Paris on a Heavy (8).
Winner of last year’s The Goodwood, Benedetta has a better strike rate on firmer ground and should get conditions to suit on the weekend.
Other Kingsford Smith Cup contenders being kept at a conservative price by the bookies include last November’s Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes winning daughter of Brave Smash Kimochi ($10) out to atone for her last place finish (14th) with excuses in the All Aged, Joe Pride‘s returning seven-year-old Private Eye ($10) who races for the first time since last December, and Blue Point colt Bosustow ($11).
Bosustow, trained by Annabel & Rob Archibald, was a surprise first-up winner in the mud taking out the Group 3 Gold Coast Guineas (1200m) by six lengths fresh who has Group 1 form from across the Tasman that he’s out to further frank second-up and fitter for his resuming victory.
The last three-year-old Kingsford Smith Cup winner was Your Song back in 2013.
The 2025 Kingsford Smith Cup is scheduled as Eagle Farm Race 7 at 3:13pm (AEST) as part of Eagle Farm’s nine-race Saturday meeting.
Kingsford Smith Cup 2025 Odds
Eva Air Kingsford Smith Cup (G1)
| Runner Details | Win | Place |
|---|---|---|
|
1. Giga Kick (8) J: Mark Zahra 59kg
T: Clayton Douglas |
||
| Second-up. First-up after six months 3rd of 13 at Morphettville in the G1 The Goodwood on May 10 over 1200m, 1.4 len behind Reserve Bank carrying 55kg at $2.10. Previously second-up 4th of 7 at Randwick in the G2 Premiere on October 5 over 1200m, 1.0 len behind Airman carrying 58.5kg at $3. Certainly worth following up. | ||
|
2. Private Eye (6) J: Nash Rawiller 59kg
T: Joseph Pride |
||
| Has won previously first-up and resumes here after a break of five-and-a-half months. Finished off last campaign fourth of 20 at Randwick in the G2 Ingham December 14 over 1600m, 1.75 len behind Robusto with 61kg at $6. When resuming last campaign fourth of 12 at Randwick in the G3 Concorde September 7 over 1000m, 2.75 len behind I Am Me with 59.5kg at $11. Everything points to a positive return. | ||
|
4. Golden Mile (11) J: Jason Collett 59kg
T: James Cummings |
||
| Last start 3rd of 16 at this track in the G2 Victory Stakes on May 3 over 1200m, 1.75 len behind Libertad with 58.5kg at $41. Before that raced on the pace before fading 10th of 14 at Caulfield in the G3 Vic H on April 5 over 1400m, 3.5 len behind Nicolini Vito carrying 59.5kg at $18. Others seem to have his measure. | ||
|
6. Payline (9) J: Tommy Berry 59kg
T: Chris & Corey Munce |
||
| Last start 3rd of 13 at Doomben in the G1 Doomben 10,000 on May 17 over 1200m, in the wet; 0.5 len behind Sunshine In Paris with 58.5kg at $51. The start before that got back early 9th of 16 at this track in the G2 Victory Stakes on May 3 over 1200m, 3.5 len behind Libertad carrying 58.5kg at $81. Will need to do even more. | ||
|
7. Libertad (7) J: Jamie Mott 59kg
T: Annabel & Rob Archibald |
||
| Most recently 7th of 13 at Doomben in the G1 Doomben 10,000 on May 17 over 1200m, on a wet track; 3 len behind Sunshine In Paris with 58.5kg at $26. The start before that came from midfield and won by a nose at this track G2 Victory Stakes May 3 over 1200m defeating Jedibeel carrying 58.5kg at $71. Will get back in the run and need a bit of luck. | ||
|
8. Rise At Dawn (1) J: Ethan Brown 59kg
T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes |
||
| Comes off a 56 day let-up. Most recently 4th of 20 at Randwick in the G1 Doncaster on April 5 over 1600m, 0.5 len behind Stefi Magnetica carrying 51kg at $21. The race before that led to the turn then faded second last of 7 at Flemington in the G1 All-Star Mile on March 8 over 1600m, 4 len behind Tom Kitten with 59kg at $17. Worth including in exotics. | ||
|
9. Democracy Manifest (2) J: Zac Lloyd 59kg
T: Chris Waller |
||
| Resuming after a break of six months. Finished off last preparation tenth of 16 at Ascot in the G1 Northerly December 7 over 1800m, 4.5 len behind Light Infantry Man carrying 59kg at $7. When resuming last campaign fourth of 12 at Randwick in the G3 Show County August 24 over 1200m, 4 len behind Joliestar with 58.5kg at $19. Plenty of more attractive propositions in this race. | ||
|
10. Joliestar (10) J: James McDonald 57kg
T: Chris Waller |
||
| Returns from a 42-day let-up. At the latest run 2nd of 14 at Randwick in the G1 All Aged on April 19 over 1400m, on a slow track; 0.6 len behind Jimmysstar carrying 57kg at $9. The run before that 9th of 13 at Randwick in the G1 T J Smith on April 5 over 1200m, 2 len behind Briasa with 56.5kg at $3.30. Key chance capable of going right on with it. | ||
|
11. Kimochi (3) J: Craig Williams 57kg
T: Gary Portelli |
||
| Comes off a 42 day let-up. Most recently ran last of 14 at Randwick in the G1 All Aged on April 19 over 1400m, on a slow track; 11 len behind Jimmysstar with 57kg at $14. The start before that 5th of 13 at Randwick in the G1 T J Smith on April 5 over 1200m, 1.75 len behind Briasa carrying 56.5kg at $26. Sure to be thereabouts. | ||
|
12. Benedetta (5) J: Jamie Melham 57kg
T: Jason Warren |
||
| Most recently 4th of 13 at Doomben in the G1 Doomben 10,000 on May 17 over 1200m, on a wet track; 1.5 len behind Sunshine In Paris carrying 56.5kg at $4.80. The start before that 5th of 14 at Randwick in the G1 All Aged on April 19 over 1400m, on a slow track; 2.75 len behind Jimmysstar with 57kg at $21. Leading chance on best form. | ||
|
13. Bosustow (4) J: Josh Parr 57kg
T: Annabel & Rob Archibald |
||
| Half-brother to Group 1 winner Amelia's Jewel. Second-up. First-up after three months ran on from midfield and scored a big 6 len win at Gold Coast G3 Gc Guineas May 10 over 1200m on a heavy track defeating Merchant Gold carrying 57kg at $7.50. Previously second-up 6th of 11 at Caulfield in the G3 Gneas Prel on September 21 over 1400m, 2.5 len behind Angel Capital carrying 56kg at $8. Great chance to make it two in a row. Going well and looks hard to beat again here. | ||
| 3. Rothfire (5) | ||
| 5. Zarastro (8) | ||
| 14. Ameena (11) | ||
Data retrieved: 01/06/2025 04:38:16 AM (Australia/Brisbane)
IMAGINE WHAT YOU COULD BE BUYING INSTEAD.
For free and confidential call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.
