Kingsford Smith Cup Tips, Betting, Odds, Horses & More 2025

The Kingsford Smith Cup is one of the first races that kicks off some epic racing at Eagle Farm Racecourse. Heaps of racing takes place at Eagle Farm Racecourse during Brisbane’s Winter Racing Carnival, which certainly makes the racecourse one of the top tracks in the country. 

The race was first run in 1964 and was won by Rashlore. Two Group One races take place on this particular Saturday, the Kingsford Smith Cup along with the Queensland Derby. We have seen some of the best-ever horses win the Kingsford Smith Cup, which we will discuss later on this page.

There have been a lot of chances to the Kingsford Smith Cup over the years, including name changes, status changes, track changes and distance changes. We will cover all these changes in our “History” section near the end of this page.

We have all the information you could possibly need on the Kingsford Smith Cup here at OnlyRacing.com.au. No matter if you’re looking for information on who to bet with, who to bet on, or general information on the field, form guide or results, we’ve got you sorted! We update the information on this page every year, so you always have the most updated details.

It was only in 2023 when the prize money for the Kingsford Smith Cup was increased to $1 million. See the breakdown of the prize money for the race below:

The thing we love the most in this world - horse racing tips! But not just any horse racing tips, free horse racing tips. We enjoy providing our readers with the best free horse racing tips going around and we take pride in our work. We have tips for each Group 1 along with daily tips, so you’ve got options, options and more options.

We want to provide our Kingsford Smith Cup tips now, but we just don’t have enough information to provide accurate tips! So, our experts will continue to hold off providing their tips until the final field has been confirmed in 2025. When the time is right, our experts will go through all the important details and put together their tips for the race.

Seeing that you’re already here, why don’t you check out the tips we put together for the race in 2024. See how our experts stacked up below:

Kingsford Smith Cup Best Bet - I Wish I Win

I really wish I Wish I Win will win the Kingsford Smith Cup because I’ve got him as my best bet for the race! (I enjoy providing horse racing tips almost as much as I love playing with the words of the name of the horse!) I Wish I Win is the current favourite and I can understand why. 

He just kept finding one or two better on the day and this was the case as well in the Doomben 10,000, when he was denied late by Bella Nipotina. He’ll need to turn the table on Bella Nipotina in this one, but I think this is his time to shine. I think he will eat up the track conditions, plus he gets a race with a little more distance. 

Kingsford Smith Cup Next Best - Magic Time

It’s time to make some magic! I’ve got Magic Time as my next best for the race on Saturday. She is already a multiple Group 1 winner, with her last Group 1 victory being in the All Aged Stakes. I like that she gets a little more distance in this race and the fact that she is on the fresher side is another big tick. 

She had a trial a couple of weeks ago and she is building nicely for this one. Michael Dee gets the ride and he knows this mare inside out, after being aboard for both of her Group 1 victories so far. It doesn’t matter the conditions, she is as versatile as they come and at a current price of $6.50, that’s pretty decent value.

Kingsford Smith Cup Best Roughie - Tuvalu

Gets an opportunity for a gun run from barrier three. If he is up to the task, Tuvalu could raise a few eyebrows. There is a lot of value for Tuvalu as well, he is currently priced at $19! Put in a stellar performance during the Warrnambool Carnival, winning the Wangoom.

In that race, he was carrying a massive weight and did it in the wet as well! He led throughout and was just too good for them. Yes, this is a bit of a step up, but if he can get some luck on his side, he could move on to bigger things, like the Stradbroke Handicap. 

If you are new to the world of betting, you might think it’s a difficult process. But in reality, it’s actually quite simple, there are just a couple of tips you need and you’re on your way when it comes to Kingsford Smith Cup betting! One of our top recommendations is to bet on a wide variety of markets.

There are heaps of new betting apps out there, all with a range of markets you can place your bets on. It’s a good idea to try something new because you can find a bet type you like. While you should try something new, you should only bet on markets that you fully understand. If you don’t have a lot of knowledge, then you can do some research.

Some of the simpler bet types include Fixed Win/ Place bets. So, if you’re just starting out, that’s the bet type for you! Some of the more complicated markets include First Four, Quinellas and more. Knowing your options is important for markets as well as the range of racing betting sites. 

There are so many Australian betting sites out there, that it can actually be difficult to make a decision! But you don’t have to choose just one. We recommend opening accounts with multiple bookies because it makes it easier to take advantage of things like betting promotions or even betting sites bonuses.

If you’re looking for a place to start, bookies like PlayUp, Winnersbet and GetSetBet are all great options. They are some of the best betting apps going around, so it’s worth checking out what they can offer you.

If three just isn’t enough for you, don’t worry, we’ve got your back! All you need to do is scroll on up to our “Betting Sites” section above. In that section, we’ve got heaps of bookies for you to check out. Our in-depth reviews cover every aspect of each bookie.

As the Kingsford Smith Cup is one of the most prestigious races on the Australian calendar, we always see quality runners in the field. While we don’t know which runners will line up for the Kingsford Smith Cup in 2025, we do know that it will be a jam-packed high-quality field.

Along with the final field information, we will also provide information about the odds in our “Odds” section further down on this page, if they are available. It’s a good idea to check out the odds because it will tell you runners that are more likely to make an appearance in the final field.

In the meantime, you can take a look at the calibre of racehorses that lined up for the race in 2024 below:

For the Kingsford Smith Cup in 2024, we saw a smaller field of just 12 runners confirmed for the race. Along with this, no emergencies have been listed either and this resulted in the field being cut to 10 runners as both Cepheus and Tuvalu were scratched and did not compete in the Kingsford Smith Cup.

Scratchings are an unfortunate outcome that means a runner is pulled out from the race and will no longer participate in it. There are a few reasons why a horse is scratched from a race and they can happen at any time from when the final field is announced to just seconds before the race is set to jump.

It’s important to keep an eye on scratchings, especially if you’ve placed a bet on the race. Along with scratchings, you should also note the barrier draw. The barrier a runner jumps from can have a pretty significant influence on how the race will play out, especially when the field is on the larger side.

Betting with your head is always a solid piece of advice and this means getting all the stats and data possible on the race in the past. The Kingsford Smith form guide is an important piece of the puzzle because you are looking back at the data from previous years trying to find any patterns that can help point you in the direction of a future winner.

There is plenty of information that you can look into, but why do all the hard work when we’ve already done it for you? We’ve spent all the time required and have gone through and found the patterns that can hopefully help you back a winner. Check out all the information we’ve found!

When it comes to the Kingsford Smith Cup, there have been many changes to the distance and track, so you must take all this information with a grain of salt. You’ll see several runners from the Doomben 10,000 make an appearance in this race. In 2024, I Wish I Win came second in the Doomben 10,000 before winning the Kingsford Smith Cup.

The Doomben 10,000 is run over a distance of 1,200m and takes place two weeks before the Kingsford Smith Cup. The last runner to complete the Doomben 10,000 - Kingsford Smith Cup double was Bostonian in 2019.

Since 2006, six Kingsford Smith Cup winners have also won their previous race, while 14 have at least placed in their previous run. Also since 2006, nine winners have been 5YO geldings. That’s a pretty heavy influence, so it would pay to check out any of those runners who fit the bill.

Fillies and females in general don’t have the best record in the Kingsford Smith Cup. Sea Siren is the only filly in the last 33 years to win the race, while only two mares have won the race since 2006, which were Black Caviar and Gee I Jane.

When it comes to the favourite for the Kingsford Smith Cup, they generally have a poor record. Since 2009, we have seen nine runners jump with double-digit odds, so major upsets happen on the regular in the Kingsford Smith Cup!

The Kingsford Smith Cup has been around since 1964, so there have been plenty of epic horses that have taken part in the race. Too many to include in this section, so we’ve had to make some tough decisions! We can only feature a handful of the best Kingsford Smith Cup horses to ever compete and win the race.

We will provide more information on the top horse’s achievements and any honours as well. Hopefully, the horse you are thinking of has made the cut! Check out all the information on the top Kingsford Smith Cup horses below:

Strawberry Road - 1983

Strawberry Road won the 1983 Kingsford Smith Cup and competed in multiple countries around the globe. Some of the Australian Group 1 races he won included; the Rosehill Guineas, the Cox Plate and the Queensland Derby. He also won the Grosser Preis von Baden, which is a Group 1 in Germany and the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, which is a Group 1 in France.

Apache Cat - 2008

Apache Cat amassed almost $5 million in prize money throughout his career thanks to many high-profile wins including the 2008 Kingsford Smith Cup. He was also named the 2008 Australian Champion Sprinter and won other Group 1 races like the Australian Guineas, the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes and the Doomben 10,000.

Black Caviar - 2011

One of the most recognised names in horse racing, Black Caviar finished her career with a record of 25:25-0-0 and this helped the mare accumulate almost $8 million in prize money. She was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame and has a Group 1 race named after her, the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes. 

Think About It - 2023

One of the more recent winners of the Kingsford Smith Cup, Think About It was victorious in 2023. The multiple Group 1 winner has a current record of 16:11-1-2 and has over $11 million in prize money, mainly thanks to his win in one of the richest races in the world, The Everest. Along with the Kingsford Smith Cup, Think About It has also won the Stradbroke Handicap.

When you go to bet on the Kingsford Smith Cup, you’ll notice numbers next to the market/ runner. These numbers represent the odds, which tell you how much you will win if your bet gets up. The lower the odds, the more chance the bookie thinks that the bet will be successful. But remember that even if a particular runner is really short, it still doesn’t guarantee a winning bet!

There are plenty of horse racing betting apps in Australia and they will all offer Kingsford Smith Cup odds. Each bookie will have slightly different factors that influence their odds, so this is why you may notice different odds for the same market/ runner. Sometimes the odds can be significantly different, so it pays to shop around.

As soon as the market is released, you’ll notice the odds constantly changing. Changes in the odds are a way of life in horse racing and we recommend jumping on and placing your bets as soon as you see a price you like. 

There are heaps of horse racing markets as well, but in the beginning, most will just open Fixed Win/ Place markets. The closer we get to race day, the more markets will open up and you’ll have a lot more options. 

When the market is first released, it will usually be under “Before Noms” and this is a good time to bet because you’ll get your stake back if your chosen runner doesn’t end up running. You’ll also notice that the odds are a bit higher compared to if you bet on the day of the race.

As we wait for the 2025 Kingsford Smith Cup odds market to be released, check out the odds for every single runner in the 2024 race below:

*Odds correct as of 30/05/2024.

The Kingsford Smith Cup takes place each year during Brisbane’s Winter Racing Carnival, which is one of the biggest horse racing carnivals in Queensland. With the first running of the race back in 1964, there is a lot of history to get through!

There have been many changes to the race throughout the years and it can be difficult to keep up, but we break down all the changes you should know about in this section. There have been multiple name changes, grade changes and distance changes.

The name changes to the Kingsford Smith Cup are as follows:

• 1964-1982: JT Delaney Quality Handicap
• 1983: Power Hotels Quality
• 1984: Stefan Sprint
• 1985-1990: Tourist Minister's Cup
• 1991-1994: Robin's Kitchen Cup
• 1995-1997: Foster's Cup
• 1998-2000: Carlton Cup
• 2001: Carlton Draught Cup
• 2002-2003: Wyndham Estate Cup
• 2004-2016: BTC Cup
• 2017-Present: Kingsford Smith Cup

The Kingsford Smith Cup started as a Principle Race before making it through the grades to eventually holding Group 1 status. Check out the status changes of the race throughout the years below:

• 1964-1979: Principal Race
• 1980-1982: Listed Race
• 1983-1986: Group 3
• 1987-2005: Group 2
• 2006-Present: Group 1

We see the Kingsford Smith Cup run at a distance of 1,300m these days, but this wasn’t always the case. Check out the distance changes for the race below:

• 1964-1972: 1,400 metres
• 1973-1979: 1,200 metres
• 1980-1990: 1,350 metres
• 1991-2016: 1,200 metres
• 2017: 1,300 metres
• 2018: 1,350 metres
• 2019-Present: 1,300 metres

Over the years, the race has also been run at a couple of different tracks, including Doomben Racecourse. The redevelopment of Eagle Farm between 2014 and 2016 meant the race took place during this time (and also in 2018) at Doomben Racecourse.

The record for the Kingsford Smith Cup is currently held by the only filly to win the race, Sea Siren in 2012, who won the race (which was 1,200m at the time) in a time of 1:08.10. It is unlikely that record will be broken considering the race is now run at a distance of 1,300m.

You probably already know by now, but the Kingsford Smith Cup is just one of many Group 1 races on the calendar. Australia really is the home of epic Group 1 racing! If you want to learn more about some of the other races on the calendar, just check out our Group One races list.

So, you want to know who won the Kingsford Smith Cup? Well, that’s why you’re here, readying our Kingsford Smith Cup results section! We’ve got all the results-related details you’ve been looking for, including the finishing order of all runners plus a race replay.

In 2024, the Kingsford Smith Cup was taken out by I Wish I Win and this victory is his second win at Group 1 level. I Wish I Win came into the Kingsford Smith Cup in some form after finishing second in his lead-up race, the Doomben 10,000. Bella Nipotina almost got the better of I Wish I Win, but just didn’t have the speed and finished 0.4L off the pace.

Wrapping up the final minor placing was the James Cummings-trained mare, In Secret. In Secret was a little further back of the first two finishers, 2.49L off the leader. The Kingsford Smith Cup was run in a time of 1:17.81 and there was only a total of 6.99L that split the entire field.

Ready for a table? Check out the full finishing order of the entire Kingsford Smith Cup field below:

We keep our promises here at OnlyRacing, so why don’t you check out the full race replay of the Kingsford Smith Cup below:

There can only be one winner each year in the Kingsford Smith Cup (unless we see a rare dead heat!). We’ve got all the recent winners who proved too good for the rest of the field, check them all out below (noting that there was no race in 2020 due to COVID-19):

While we aim to have answered every question you could possibly have about the Kingsford Smith Cup, we do understand that sometimes things slip through the cracks. That’s why we’ve put together this Kingsford Smith Cup FAQs section, to answer all the common questions people have about the race. Check out all the details below: