Kingdoms Reigns in Brisbane

Kiwi galloper Kingdoms (NZ) (High Chaparral) made the best possible debut for new trainer Brian Smith as he charged home late to win the Listed Centenary Classic Mercedes Benz Open Mile (1600m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Kingdoms (NZ) racing to victory in the Listed Centenary Classic Mercedes Benz Open Mile.

Formerly trained in Sydney by John O’Shea, the son of High Chaparral was sent to Smith following the move by O’Shea to become the private trainer for Darley. Smith, an ex-pat kiwi, is best known as the trainer of champion New Zealand galloper Balmerino (NZ) (Trictrac).

Kingdoms’ biggest win in Sydney came in the spring of last year when the four-year-old succeeded in the Listed City Tattersalls Cup over 2400m. He has also been Group 1 placed over 2400m, finishing third to Dundeel (NZ) (High Chaparral) in the Group 1 Australian Derby last year.

Smith was confident of a bold showing on Saturday following an impressive trial win 11 days earlier, with his biggest concern the barrier draw of 12.

“We thought he would win until the draw came out as he has always had a tendency to hang out,” commented Smith. “He won his barrier trial in a quick time and cruised but he was on the fence all of the way.”

Rider Larry Cassidy, another ex-pat kiwi, settled Kingdoms near the tail of the field with only two runners behind him. Cassidy produced his mount centre-track and he showed an electric turn of foot to swoop to the lead and claim victory by 1.3 lengths over Hi Son (Husson) and Belle de Coeur (Show a Heart).

“He tracked up beautifully on Saturday and spat them out, he is really exciting,” said Smith. “He had a little setback otherwise I would have run him in the Stradbroke, I think he is very smart.

“There is a good mile in a fortnight that I will run him in then I will play with him before the Newcastle Cup and the Metropolitan, which has always been his aim.

“I have trained horses for one of the part owners Michael O’Keeffe before, a couple of ones that performed ordinary in Sydney that I have won multiple races with. He sent me Cruz By which I have won three out of five with and she is really smart too so he gave me a chance with this horse.”

Saturday’s victory was Kingdoms’ third win from 13 starts and his second win at Listed level. He has earned A$349,580 in prizemoney for his owners Michael O’Keeffe, John Bromley and Mr GK Lawler.

Bred by Bromley Bloodstock Ltd, Kingdoms is the first foal to race out of winning O’Reilly mare A Real Princess, a full-sister to Hong Kong Group 2 winner Unique Jewellery (O’Reilly) and a half-sister to Group 1 winner Marju Snip (Marju) and Group 2 winner Do Ra Mi (Savabeel). A Real Princess is also the grand-daughter of dual Group 1 winner Candide (Sound Reason), the dam of Group 1 winning two-year-old Nadeem (Redoute’s Choice).

Kingdoms was purchased by Bart Cummings at the 2011 Karaka Premier Sale for NZ$470,000 from Seaton Park.