Kingman heading back home for Len Smith Mile

11 November 2026

ADAM HAMILTON 

NZ Cup hard luck story Kingman will be whisked back home to chase more Group 1 glory.

Owner-breeder Mick Harvey confirmed his star pacer would chase Saturday week’s $150,000 Group 1 Len Smith Mile at Menangle.

It means bypassing a clash with Leap To Fame and Captains Mistress in Friday’s Group 1 NZ free-for-all at Addington.

“He won’t run Friday,” Harvey said. “He’ll be on a flight Monday or Tuesday back to Sydney and go to the Len Smith.

“Beyond that, we’ll take him to Brisbane for the Blacks A Fake (December 5), too.”

Harvey was left lamenting what might have been after Kingman galloped at the start and effectively ruined his chances in yesterday’s NZ Cup.

Despite losing valuable ground at the start, Kingman still loomed large down the back straight and just for a moment, looked like he could repeat his epic win in last year’s NZ Cup.

“I did get excited for a few strides there, but the effort took its toll,” Harvey said.

“What an enormous run it was. He was still level with Leap To Fame at the top of the home straight, despite all the chasing we’d done and extra ground we’d covered.

“Of course I’m deflated but it showed he’s right back to his best and we’ve got lots of other big races coming up.

"Luke said the start was tricky, He did the right thing and came up to the tape and stood there, but the others kept moving up and basically got a walk up start."

Harvey heaped praise on Leap To Fame.

“I love watching champions win and he’s one of the best we’ve ever seen,” he said.

“If we couldn’t win, then as a harness lover, I wanted it to be Leap To Fame.

“He’s truly done it all now. What a horse.

“But we’ve beaten him before and we’ll keep trying to do it again.”

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PHOTO: HRNZ/Races Images NZ