Kingman ready to kick off in million dollar mission

New pacing sensation Kingman (Always B Miki) is primed to up the ante on his challenge to Leap To Fame as Australasia’s best pacer at Bendigo on Saturday night.

Trainer-driver Luke McCarthy said the Victoria and NZ Cup winner was “ready to rock” as he takes his first step towards a possible $1 million harness racing  bonus in the $75,000 Group 2 Bendigo Cup.

It’s Kingman’s first start since winning the Group 1 Christian Cullen at Addington in Christchurch on November 21.

“I’m not worried about his lack of recent racing, it’s always been the plan to go into Bendigo first-up,” McCarthy said.

“He’s ready to rock, don’t worry about that.

“Don’t forget he had almost four weeks between races from the Victoria Cup to the NZ Cup and went the best he ever has in the second of them.

“He’s fit and done plenty of work. He’s had two trips into Menangle for private workouts and you make them close to races. He’s right where I want him.”

Kingman has been a revelation since joining McCarthy’s stable in July with nine starts netting seven wins.

But it was the Victoria Cup win on October 17 and the NZ Cup romp on November 11 which really made statements.

Many hardened Kiwis say the NZ Cup performance was up with the greatest in the 100-plus year history of the iconic race.

Kingman beat Leap To Fame in both the Victoria and NZ Cups. That’s the only two occasions they’ve met.

“We went to the Victoria Cup because we thought he could win and he did and that sparked the idea for NZ,” McCarthy said. “To go over there and win it like he did, beating Leap To Fame in a real staying contest, that was something else.

by Adam Hamilton, for Harness Racing Victoria