Title: Joliestar Leads the Charge in the 2025 Kingsford Smith Cup at Eagle Farm

Elite-level racing ignites the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival this Saturday at Eagle Farm Racecourse, featuring a Group 1 double-header headlined by the highly anticipated Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m).

Joliestar is favourite in 2025 Kingsford Smith Cup betting at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

Chris Waller’s star Newmarket Handicap-winning mare, Joliestar, holds clear favouritism in the latest betting markets for this prestigious event.

The $1 million Kingsford Smith Cup serves as the crucial traditional lead-up to Queensland’s richest race, the Group 1 $3 million Stradbroke Handicap (1400m), set to return to Eagle Farm on June 14.

Joliestar, a four-year-old daughter of Zoustar and earner of $3.9 million, is attempting to achieve a rare feat, aiming to become the first mare since the legendary Black Caviar in 2011 to win the Kingsford Smith Cup against her male counterparts.

She enters this contest off a strong lead-up performance, finishing second to Jimmysstar in Sydney’s Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m). Her preparation’s highlight was a commanding victory in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on March 5, and with proven winning form up to a mile, the 1300m of the Kingsford Smith Cup presents no distance concerns.

Currently installed at $3.90 through Ladbrokes, Joliestar will need James McDonald to navigate successfully from a wider draw in barrier 13, as both Waller and McDonald seek their maiden victories in this race.

Challenging Joliestar for top honours at $4.80 is the former The Everest champion, Giga Kick, for trainer Clayton Douglas. Drawn in barrier 10 with Mark Zahra maintaining the ride, the five-year-old son of Scissor Kick is eager to return to winning form, with his last turf triumph dating back to the 2023 Group 1 Doomben 10,000.

He resumed his campaign on May 10, running a close third as the beaten favourite in the Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m) in South Australia, and significant improvement is anticipated for his Brisbane outing.

Rounding out the single-figure contenders at $7 is Jason Warren’s smart mare, Benedetta, drawn favourably in barrier six with Jamie Melham booked. This five-year-old daughter of Hellbent boasts a strong 1300m record (3:2-0-0) and performed creditably with a 1.5-length fourth to Sunshine In Paris in the Doomben 10,000 on a Heavy (8) track on May 17. As a winner of last year’s The Goodwood, Benedetta thrives on firmer ground, which she is expected to encounter this Saturday.

Other strong contenders at conservative prices include Gary Portelli’s Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes winner Kimochi ($10), looking to atone for a last-place finish in the All Aged; Joe Pride’s returning seven-year-old Private Eye ($10), resuming from a spell since last December; and the Annabel & Rob Archibald-trained Blue Point colt Bosustow ($11), a six-length Group 3 Gold Coast Guineas winner fresh, eager to frank his Group 1 form from across the Tasman earlier in the year.

The last three-year-old to win the Kingsford Smith Cup was Your Song in 2013, adding another layer of intrigue to this year’s field.

2025 Kingsford Smith Cup Field & Barriers

1. GIGA KICK – Clayton Douglas – Mark Zahra – Barrier 10 – 59kg
2. PRIVATE EYE – Joseph Pride – Nash Rawiller – Barrier 7 – 59kg
3. ROTHFIRE – Robert Heathcote – Tim Clark – Barrier 5 – 59kg
4. GOLDEN MILE – James Cummings – Jason Collett – Barrier 14 – 59kg
5. ZARASTRO – Tony Gollan – Ms Angela Jones – Barrier 9 – 59kg
6. PAYLINE – Chris & Corey Munce – Tyler Schiller – Barrier 12 – 59kg
7. LIBERTAD – Annabel & Rob Archibald – Jamie Mott – Barrier 8 – 59kg
8. RISE AT DAWN (NZ) – Ben, Will & JD Hayes – Blake Shinn – Barrier 1 – 59kg
9. DEMOCRACY MANIFEST – Chris Waller – Zac Lloyd – Barrier 2 – 59kg
10. JOLIESTAR – Chris Waller – James McDonald – Barrier 13 – 57kg
11. KIMOCHI – Gary Portelli – Craig Williams – Barrier 3 – 57kg
12. BENEDICTA – Jason Warren – Ms Jamie Melham – Barrier 6 – 57kg
13. BOSUSTOW – Annabel & Rob Archibald – Joshua Parr – Barrier 4 – 57kg
14. AMEENA – Anthony & Sam Freedman – Ben Melham – Barrier 11 – 55kg

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

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