The Kingsford-Smith Cup has drawn a star-studded field and it is set to be one of the clear highlights of the 2018 Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival.

It is Le Romain that is currently on top of our Kingsford-Smith Cup betting market following his tough effort in the Doomben 10,000, but there has also been early support for Impending, Care To Think, English and Champagne Cuddles.

Who will win the 2018 Kingsford-Smith Cup?

We have analysed all 11 horses in the field and our complete 2018 Kingsford-Smith Cup tips can be found below.

Impending

Impending was only narrowly denied by English in the Doomben 10,000 and he is a horse that is still on the way-up. The step-up to 1350 metres is ideal for him – he won the Stradbroke Handicap over this track and distance last year – and this race has always been his target. The wide barrier draw isn’t an issue as he is likely to get back anyway and that will give Damian Browne the chance to get him up and running a long way from home. He is the horse to beat.

Le Romain

Le Romain was gallant in the Doomben 10,000 and there is no doubt that he will go into this race as one of the leading contenders. He maps to get a much better run than he did in the Doomben 10,000 after drawing barrier five and there is no horse that will relish the step-up in trip more. I can’t get him as short as his current price in a race of this quality, but you simply can’t knock his form and he will be in the finish.

Care To Think

Care To Think savaged the line late in the Doomben 10,000 in what was the perfect barrier trial for the Kingsford-Smith Cup. He has drawn another wide barrier and that means that James McDonald will likely need to get a long way back once again. There is no doubt that he is heading in the right direction, but I still think that he will peak in the Stradbroke Handicap.

Most Important

Most Important was not disgraced in the Doomben 10,000 after finishing second in the Doomben 10,000. He is just a few lengths below the quality that is required to win a race of this quality and he doesn’t have the same upside as a number of the other leading contenders.

Spieth

Spieth is set to be scratched from the Kingsford-Smith Cup.

Monsieur Gustave

Monsieur Gustave was outclassed in the Doomben 10,000 and he just isn’t up to this grade. He looks set to take up the running and he will inject some pace into this contest, but he won’t be able to go with the big guns late.

Lucky Hussler

Lucky Hussler was scratched from the Doomben 10,000 and he will instead return to the races in the Kingsford-Smith Cup. His very best form would have him in this contest, but it has been a while since he performed at that level and I am more than happy to oppose him at his current price.

Endless Drama

This is interesting placement from Chris Waller with Endless Drama. He has been freshened-up since he finished ninth in the Doncaster Mile and he trialed in very impressive fashion before being sent to Queensland. He won the Apollo Stakes fresh in the Autumn and it wouldn’t surprise to see him produce a better performance than his current odds suggest.

English

English returned to her brilliant best to win the Doomben 10,000, but consistently racing at that level has proven to be an issue for the Encosta De Lago mare. She has generally followed-up her career-best performance with stinkers and I would be surprised if she is able to replicate her last start rating. Barrier one isn’t ideal either and she will need some luck in running at the right time.

Volpe Veloce

Volpe Veloce has been sent to Australia after starting her campaign with a fairly flat effort in New Zealand. She did win the Railway Handicap in Ellerslie at the start of the year, but she has never shown anything to suggest that she is capable of winning a weight-for-age race of this quality.

Champagne Cuddles

Champagne Cuddles is the x-factor in the Kingsford-Smith Cup field. Bjorn Baker was originally set to run Champagne Cuddles in the Fred Best Classic, but he has changed his mind and she is clearly going well. She ran serious time when she won the Gold Coast Guineas, but she is another horse that would need to go to another level to win this contest at weight-for-age level. I would rather back her in the Stradbroke Handicap.