Kingman awesome in Shepparton Cup win

The new kid on the block Kingman (Always B Miki) smashed the track record in beating his great rival Leap To Fame in the Group 3 $50,000 Neatline Shepparton Gold Cup on Saturday evening.

In yet another cracking match race, Kingman and Leap To Fame only had three rivals but it was the barrier draw that was the key factor with Kingman drawing the pole and Leap To Fame out in three.

Kingman showed brilliant early speed to lead and Leap To Fame could do little to prevent staying outside the leader. Early on Grant Dixon tried to drop in for a trail behind Kingman but Luke McCarthy was able to keep him one wide.

Eventually Dixon was able to secure the sit behind the leader as they headed with just over a lap to travel.

The capacity crowd sensed an epic battle and roared their encouragement when they edged clear of the field on the final bend. Leap To Fame pulled out to make his run but McCarthy let Kingman to run his last quarter in 27.2 seconds and he moved clear from Leap To Fame who tried his heart out but found Kingman too strong on the night. Our Luciano was 45 metres away in third.

KINGMAN 17 JAN REPLAY

Kingman ran 1.53.7 for the 2690 metres which was almost two seconds faster than the time of 1.55.6 set by Spirit Of St Louis some four years ago. Even more credible was that driver Luke McCarthy did not release Kingman’s plugs. It was yet another superb drive by McCarthy who has an unparalled record in landing classic and feature events.

Luke McCarthy pointed out that Kingman was a different horse to the one that run in the Bendigo Cup last week.

Like I said in the press, forget last week’s run we had an unusual week with the fires and the heat. He’s had a beautiful week thanks to Nathan Jack and Rusty and all his crew for looking after him. He felt super tonight and went accordingly. Actually when Grant went up strong early he did get a little bit keen. Once Grant dropped on my back he relaxed a bit. But he’s a super horse.

He had an amazing 2025 hopefully he can have an even bigger 2026.

Full credit to HRV and all the clubs for putting on that bonus to lure horses like Kingman and Leap To Fame. He’ll now be based in Victoria for the whole Victoria carnival right into the Hunter Cup.

He’s right up there with them, I’ve been lucky enough to have a lot of champion horses. You can only go on their record and what he’s done. He won the New Zealand Cup and now he’s come out with the Shepparton Cup it a big thrill.

The logical thing is after the Victoria carnival is the Miracle Mile carnival with these top horses.  These top end horse you have to keep looking after them and keep aiming them at all the best races.

He was always a good horse I drove him for Clayton And Emma as a three year old he won a good race in Brisbane one night he went really good. He was unlucky not to win the Queensland Derby. He’s always had the ability as he’s got a bit older he’s really matured. He used to do a few things wrong, hopefully he’s grown out of them.

Connections of Kingman will now chase the $1 million bonus on offer for the Victorian Carnival of Cups and is now likely to line up in next Saturday’s Group 2 $100,000 Ballarat Pacing Cup.

Kingman is raced by prominent harness racing breeder and owner Mick Harvey who is also the new proprietor of  Harnesslink. Harvey has had much success with horses over the years but Kingman is obviously a very special horse to him as he nears the $1 million mark in stake money.

Kingman now has a 3-0 record over Leap To Fame who’s still looking for his first win over Kingman. The barrier draw in their future meetings will still play a major role however at this stage it would appear that Kingman has the edge on Leap To Fame. But harness racing will continue to benefit when the best horses in the land keep meeting up in the forthcoming features.

For complete race results, click here.

by Tony Milanese, for Harnesslink