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The 2026 Caulfield Cup results produced a fairytale victory for emerging trainer Gavin Bedggood as outsider Kingswood stormed to success in Saturday’s Group 1 staying feature, while the race was also marked by a worrying fall involving defending champion Half Yours, who thankfully walked away from the incident, and the sad loss of the mare Ohope Wins.
Starting at $26 in the historic 150th edition of the Group 1 $6.55 million Caulfield Cup (2400m), the British-bred son of Roaring Lion delivered the performance of his career in the staying classic, overcoming a nightmare barrier draw to defeat Saint George by half a length, with UK raider Enfjaar another half-length away in third.
In a race featuring a number of leading Melbourne Cup contenders, Kingswood proved strongest when it mattered, giving Bedggood his biggest training success and vindicating the stable’s long-held belief that the six-year-old could measure up in elite company over the famous mile and a half.
Bedggood’s Grand Final Triumph
For Bedggood, the victory represented the culmination of a meticulously planned campaign that included a Group 1 victory in New Zealand and a carefully managed spring preparation.
The trainer was emotional post-race as he paid tribute to the staff and owners behind the gelding’s success.
“I’m just rapt for my team at home,” Bedggood told Racing Victoria.
“They all turn up every day and they work really hard. I’m a hard task master. I’m anal and like things done a particular way.
“They put up with me and I don’t get the results that I’m getting without good people behind me.”
Kingswood’s task looked considerably harder when he drew barrier 17, but Bedggood entrusted jockey John Allen to work it out from the saddle.
“I was gutted when I saw it and thought we had to go back,” he said.
“I had a chat to Johnny yesterday and said, ‘You’re riding it, you’ve drawn 17.’
“I pretty much left it in his hands.”
That decision paid dividends as Allen managed to slot the gelding into a rhythm despite racing wide for much of the journey.
“We were pretty much posted three-wide all the way and everyone wanted to question the horse’s credentials at a mile-and-a-half,” Bedggood said.
“You had to put a line through that last run on a Heavy 9. It’s great to be vindicated.”
The trainer also credited former mentor Darren Weir, who helped direct the horse to his stable.
“He told the owners to send the horse my way, so I’m really grateful for that,” Bedggood said.
“When I got him, he told me he reminded him of Puissance De Lune. Not because he’s a grey, but because he’s tough and has a great constitution.
“He was bang on with everything he said.”
Having already achieved a major target with Kingswood in New Zealand, Bedggood was thrilled to see the horse win one of Australia’s premier handicaps.
“We hit every target this preparation when we sat down and made a plan,” he said.
“To win the Grand Final is fantastic.”
Allen Produces Masterclass
In the saddle, Allen delivered a patient and perfectly timed ride from the outside draw.
Rather than chasing early position, the Irishman allowed Kingswood to find his rhythm before bringing him into the race at exactly the right time.
“Great performance, unbelievable effort by Gavin, he had the horse spot on for today,” Allen said.
“He’d been going super this prep and dropped in weight today.”
Allen felt the horse travelled comfortably despite the awkward run.
“Bit of a messy race, we were three-wide early, but he was in a nice rhythm,” he explained.
“I knew he’d show a good turn of foot if he travelled well into the home straight and he cantered up to them and put them away.”
The jockey said the result was richly deserved for all involved.
“For Gavin, he’s a trainer going places. We’ll be hearing a lot more of him after I’m retired,” he said.
Saint George Hits the Line Hard
Runner-up Saint George lost no admirers with another brave staying performance for the powerhouse Ciaron Maher stable who earlier won Sydney’s The Everest with star mare Tempted.
The gelding enjoyed an economical run throughout and fought hard all the way to the line before going down narrowly.
Jockey Craig Williams was proud of the horse’s effort.
“My horse was great. Ciaron Maher and his stable have done a great job,” Williams said.
“The horse ran his heart out, got a very uncomplicated run from the barrier, very economical.”
Williams was also quick to shift attention to those involved in the fall.
“My thoughts, most importantly, are with the horses and riders that fell,” he said.
Enfjaar Books Melbourne Cup Ticket
International raider Enfjaar produced a strong first-up Australian run to finish third and stamp his credentials for the Group 1 $10.2 million Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 3.
Rider Ray Dawson believed the gelding looked the winner entering the straight before condition just told over the closing stages.
“I couldn’t have dreamed for a better run around,” Dawson said.
“I thought I was going to win turning in but he hasn’t run for a while and I think he just felt the pinch inside the last 100 metres.
“Very proud of him and he’ll go to the Melbourne Cup now.”
Enfjaar has firmed into $15 in futures Melbourne Cup betting at Ladbrokes.
Melbourne Cup 2026 Odds
| 1. Defiantly | ||
| 2. James J Braddock | ||
| 3. Trustyourinstinct | ||
| 4. Aeliana | ||
| 5. Shockletz | ||
| 6. Enfjaar | ||
| 7. Saint George | ||
| 8. Stinger Glass | ||
| 9. Zakouma | ||
| 10. Zahrann |
Melbourne Cup Hopefuls Catch the Eye
Several other runners enhanced their Melbourne Cup prospects despite missing a placing.
Victorian Oaks heroine Treasurethe Moment handled the rise in grade admirably, with Daniel Stackhouse pleased by her finishing effort after enjoying a soft run throughout.
“I thought she ran well,” Stackhouse said.
“I thought she finished off well.”
Former Melbourne Cup winner Knight’s Choice also worked to the line steadily after settling too far back in the muddling contest.
“He actually ran OK,” Robbie Dolan said.
“He’ll be better around Flemington and over a bit further.”
Knight’s Choice firmed dramatically in from $51 to $26 to win his second Melbourne Cup after saluting in the ‘race that stops a nation’ in 2024.
Another horse to catch the eye was Middle Earth, who closed off strongly and appears set for bigger spring targets.
“Happy with how he hit the line and he’ll improve going forward to bigger targets,” jockey Thomas Stockdale said.
Likewise, Soul Of Spain and Zahrann both ran races suggesting the two miles of the Melbourne Cup could suit.
Relief After Half Yours Fall
While Kingswood’s upset victory was the headline story, there was an anxious moment during the race when defending Caulfield Cup champion Half Yours came to grief.
Fortunately, the popular stayer was able to walk away from the incident after the race, providing relief to connections and racegoers alike after a concerning scene in the middle stages of the Cup.
The incident affected several runners, including Asterix, whose jockey Beau Mertens was forced to take evasive action.
“There was a bit of an accident and had to dodge and weave a little bit,” Mertens said.
“I think he stayed out the trip quite well and he ran a good, strong race.”
Thankfully, the immediate post-race reports indicated that Half Yours had emerged from the fall without major injury and was able to leave the track under his own power.
RIP Ohope Wins
While there was relief for connections of defending champion Half Yours, who was able to walk from the track following the incident, the 2026 Caulfield Cup was sadly marred by the loss of fellow runner Ohope Wins.
Racing officials later confirmed the Chris Waller-trained mare sustained catastrophic injuries during the running of the Group 1 feature and was euthanised on veterinary advice. The tragic outcome cast a sombre shadow over one of Australian racing’s most prestigious races, with thoughts across the industry turning to the horse’s owners, trainer, stable staff and all those associated with Ohope Wins following the heartbreaking loss.
A Career-Defining Victory
For Bedggood and Kingswood, however, Saturday belonged to them.
After questions over his staying credentials, doubts over his form and concerns about a horror barrier draw, the imported gelding silenced the critics with a commanding Group 1 victory in one of Australia’s great handicaps.
Having now added the Caulfield Cup to his Zabeel Classic success, Kingswood has elevated himself into the upper echelon of the country’s staying ranks and, based on Saturday’s performance, shapes as a horse capable of making his presence felt wherever he heads next.
