Ladbrokes Tip: Favourites have a poor recent record in the Kingsford Smith Cup with double figure winners dominating the results over the past decade
The 2026 edition of the Kingsford Smith Cup runs on Saturday, May 30, 2026 at Eagle Farm by a field of potential Stradbroke bound horses.
2026 Kingsford Smith Cup Odds
The Kingsford Smith Cup 2026 betting odds on the race formerly known as the BTC Cup are now available below during the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival so stay tuned to access the best markets on the Group 1 lead-up to the Stradbroke Handicap.
| 8. Headley Grange (3) J: Adam Hyeronimus 59kg x4575T: Joseph Pride | ||
| 1. Jimmysstar (12) J: Ethan Brown 59kg x7534T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 12. Fangirl (13) J: James McDonald 57kg 164×8T: Chris Waller | ||
| 4. Another Wil (8) J: Jamie Melham 59kg x60x9T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 7. Transatlantic (4) J: Ryan Maloney 59kg 112×4T: Tony Gollan | ||
| 3. Private Eye (1) J: Nash Rawiller 59kg 152×3T: Joseph Pride | ||
| 2. Rothfire (6) J: Brad Rawiller 59kg 20×01T: Robert Heathcote | ||
| 5. Desert Lightning (5) J: Luke Nolen 59kg 95×41T: Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | ||
| 14. Splash Back (7) J: Jordan Childs 57kg 28×71T: Grahame Begg | ||
| 17. Von Hauke (9) J: Josh Parr 59kg 16×51T: Cliff Brown | ||
| 11. Linebacker (2) J: Ben Melham 59kg x7763T: Tom Charlton | ||
| 16. Napoleonic (11) J: Mark Zahra 57kg 228×3T: Tom Charlton | ||
| 13. Skybird (10) J: Kerrin Mcevoy 57kg x5307T: Mitchell Freedman | ||
| 6. Sepals (15) J: Lachlan Neindorf 59kg 2x47xT: Cliff Brown | ||
| 10. King Of Roseau (16) J: Tom Sherry 59kg 411×1T: Peter Snowden | ||
| 9. Yellow Brick (14) J: Tommy Berry 59kg x19x1T: Tony & Maddysen Sears |
Kingsford Smith Cup Tips
Kingsford Smith Cup tips including tipping the visiting interstate Group 1 sprinters coming via a lead-up Brisbane run in the Doomben 10,000.
Male gallopers make the best bet in Kingsford Smith Cup tipping with only five fillies or mares winning in the last two decades: Staging (1999), Gee I Jane (2006), Black Caviar (2011), Sea Siren (2012) and Joliestar (2025).
2026 Kingsford Smith Cup Tips
Our Ladbrokes’ insider Kingsford Smith Cup 2026 tips – formerly the BTC Cup betting tips – will be detailed below the week of the race so stay tuned for the winter horses to back and sack this May.
Since 2017 the BTC Cup has been known as the Kingsford Smith Cup and is no longer the opening Group 1 race of the Queensland and Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival. It is now run a fortnight later in late May taking place at Eagle Farm Racecourse – moved from Doomben – and follows the Doomben 10,000 and Doomben Cup on the winter racing program.
It is also now held on the same day as races including the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m), the $1 million Group 2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes for JJ Atkins hopes, the Group 3 Fred Best Classic for three-year-olds, and the Group 3 BRC Lord Mayor’s Cup (1800m).
Formerly contested over 1200m by a field of top class local and interstate sprinters when run as the BTC Cup, the weight-for-age Kingsford Smith Cup now takes place over 1300m and offers a total of $1,000,000 in prize money as of 2023.
The Kingsford Smith Cup is now the key lead-up to the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) held at the track the following month.
Think About It (2023) was the last runner to complete Brisbane’s Kingsford Smith Cup – Stradbroke double.
The Doomben 10,000 is an excellent lead-up into the Kingsford Smith Cup and the double was recently completed by The Bostonian (2019). The year before, Impending (2018) improved on a Doomben 10,000 second to win the Kingsford Smith Cup as the equal $4.20 favourite.
Vega One improved on a lead-up Doomben 10,000 fourth in 2021 to win that year’s Kingsford Smith Cup. Vega One further franked the form running second in the Stradbroke Handicap quinella.
In 2022, Godolphin-raced three-year-old Paulele ran second in both the Doomben 10,000 and the Kingsford Smith Cup results.
In 2024 Bella Nipotina beat I Wish I Win home in the Doomben 10,000 before the same two horses ran the quinella in the Kingsford Smith Cup results but in reverse order.
There was no Kingsford Smith Cup run in 2020 due to COVID-19.
Kingsford Smith Cup Race Info
- Former Name: BTC Cup
- Date: Saturday, May 30, 2026
- Track: Eagle Farm Racecourse
- Distance: 1300m
- Conditions: Weight-for-age
- Status: Group 1
- Prize Money: $1,000,000
- First Run: 1964
2026 Kingsford Smith Cup Results
The official 2026 Kingsford Smith Cup Results & Finishing Order will be available here once the middle-distance Group 1 sprint takes place on Saturday, May 30, 2026.
Kingsford Smith Cup Betting
Kingsford Smith Cup betting odds open to punters at all-in prices at around nomination stage offering generous prices on the top season sprinters. The Kingsford Smith Cup betting prices firm with the release of the final field the week before the race and are usually led by proven Group winners and performers coming off good lead-up form.
Sydney sprinters perform well and have traditionally sat high up BTC Cup betting. With the race date put back a fortnight since 2017, the Kingsford Smith Cup odds are now dominated by middle-distance sprinters come off the key lead-up run in the Doomben 10,000 over 1200m a fortnight earlier. The Bostonian in 2019 was the last horse to do the Doomben 10,000 – Kingsford Smith Cup double.
Two horses completed the TJ Smith Stakes – BTC Cup double without a run in between before the race was changed – Apache Cat (2008) and Black Caviar (2011). Favourites in past BTC Cup betting markets had a poor recent record.
The latest favourites to salute for the punters were superstar mare Black Caviar who is the most notable winner of the race, I Wish I Win ($3.90 EF in 2024) and Joliestar ($2.40 in 2025).
In 2018 the equal $4.80 favourite in Kingsford Smith Cup betting, Impending, won the race beating the also $4.80 co-favourite Le Romain in a thrilling photo finish.
Kingsford Smith Cup favourites get the chance to improve the record of top fancies with the race run a fortnight after over more distance at the Eagle Farm track.
Kingsford Smith Cup Field
The Kingsford Smith Cup race field always attracts a stellar line-up of top sprinters. In the past 30 years the largest field was 20 starters when Goldorme won in 1986. The smallest Kingsford Smith Cup / BTC Cup field in recent history was just seven starters when Famous Seamus won in 2014.
The new-look Kingsford Smith Cup field features primarily Stradbroke Handicap-bound horses coming off a Doomben 10,000 run and is released on the Tuesday before the race following nominations in early May.
2026 Kingsford Smith Cup Field
The Kingsford Smith Cup 2026 field will be posted here once released the Tuesday of race week, May 26th, 2026.
| Entrant | Last 6 | Sex | Barrier | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. Jimmysstar
J: Ethan Brown
T: Ciaron Maher |
1x7534 | G | 12 | 59kg | |
|
2. Rothfire
J: Brad Rawiller
T: Robert Heathcote |
020x01 | G | 6 | 59kg | |
|
3. Private Eye
J: Nash Rawiller
T: Joseph Pride |
4152x3 | G | 1 | 59kg | |
|
4. Another Wil
J: Jamie Melham
T: Ciaron Maher |
6x60x9 | G | 8 | 59kg | |
|
5. Desert Lightning
J: Luke Nolen
T: Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman |
595x41 | G | 5 | 59kg | |
|
6. Sepals
J: Lachlan Neindorf
T: Cliff Brown |
02x47x | G | 15 | 59kg | |
|
7. Transatlantic
J: Ryan Maloney
T: Tony Gollan |
2112x4 | G | 4 | 59kg | |
|
8. Headley Grange
J: Adam Hyeronimus
T: Joseph Pride |
0x4575 | G | 3 | 59kg | |
|
9. Yellow Brick
J: Tommy Berry
T: Tony & Maddysen Sears |
8x19x1 | G | 14 | 59kg | |
|
10. King Of Roseau
J: Tom Sherry
T: Peter Snowden |
2411x1 | G | 16 | 59kg | |
|
11. Linebacker
J: Ben Melham
T: Tom Charlton |
7x7763 | G | 2 | 59kg | |
|
12. Fangirl
J: James McDonald
T: Chris Waller |
4164x8 | M | 13 | 57kg | |
|
13. Skybird
J: Kerrin Mcevoy
T: Mitchell Freedman |
9x5307 | M | 10 | 57kg | |
|
14. Splash Back
J: Jordan Childs
T: Grahame Begg |
128x71 | M | 7 | 57kg | |
| 15. Manaal (9) Scratched: | |||||
|
16. Napoleonic
J: Mark Zahra
T: Tom Charlton |
x228x3 | C | 11 | 57kg | |
|
17. Von Hauke
J: Josh Parr
T: Cliff Brown |
316x51 | G | 9 | 59kg | |
| 18. Grafterburners (18) Scratched: | |||||
| 19. Sixties (20) Scratched: | |||||
| 20. Zou Sensation (1) Scratched: | |||||
2026 Kingsford Smith Cup Nominations
Early Kingsford Smith Cup nominations close on Tuesday the 5th of May 2026 and will be updated in full below once confirmed.
The 2026 Kingsford Smith Cup nominations drew 70 middle-distance stars led in all-in betting by Ciaron Maher’s three-time Group 1 winning sprinter Jimmysstar.
| Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Hcp Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | x33219x767 | ABOUNDING | M | 5 | Robert Heathcote | |
| 2 | 12x146x60x | ANOTHER WIL | G | 6 | Ciaron Maher | |
| 3 | 113×9933 | ARRIVING HOME | M | 4 | Bjorn Baker | |
| 4 | 11x320x168 | BEADMAN | C | 3 | Peter Snowden | |
| 5 | 340x68x311 | BESKAR | G | 3 | Anthony & Sam Freedman | |
| 6 | 65x2635x0x | BOSUSTOW | H | 4 | Annabel & Rob Archibald | |
| 7 | 21x141116x | CINSAULT | M | 4 | Michael Freedman | |
| 8 | x47111x75x | DANCE TO THE BOOM | M | 4 | Bjorn Baker | |
| 9 | 24x21595x4 | DESERT LIGHTNING (NZ) | G | 6 | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | |
| 10 | 15x564x232 | DEVIL NIGHT | C | 3 | Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes | |
| 11 | x6497x6002 | ENCAP | G | 5 | Gary Portelli | |
| 12 | x3121x720x | ENRICHED | H | 4 | Michael Freedman | |
| 13 | 42211317×1 | ESJAY | G | 5 | Pat Webster | |
| 14 | 31x16222x6 | ESTADIO MESTALLA (IRE) | G | 7 | Joseph Pride | |
| 15 | 221x4164x8 | FANGIRL | M | 7 | Chris Waller | |
| 16 | 35x937x156 | GENEROSITY | M | 5 | Chris Waller | |
| 17 | x6930x60x1 | GIVEMETHEBEATBOYS (IRE) | G | 5 | Michael Freedman | |
| 18 | 366x1111x3 | GRAFTERBURNERS | C | 3 | Kelly Schweida | |
| 19 | x12314311x | HARRY’S YACHT | G | 4 | Leon & Troy Corstens & Will Larkin | |
| 20 | 61110×4575 | HEADLEY GRANGE | G | 5 | Joseph Pride | |
| 21 | x379610427 | HERE TO SHOCK (NZ) | G | 8 | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | |
| 22 | 556x868x02 | INFANCY | M | 5 | Kris Lees | |
| 23 | 100x62000x | IOWNA MERC | G | 6 | Bjorn Baker | |
| 24 | x52311x753 | JIMMYSSTAR (NZ) | G | 6 | Ciaron Maher | |
| 25 | 2x121x115x | JOKERS GRIN | G | 5 | Chris Waller | |
| 26 | 21x153x111 | JOLIESTAR | M | 5 | Chris Waller | |
| 27 | 421351×175 | KERGUELEN | G | 5 | Joseph Pride | |
| 28 | 111x42411x | KING OF ROSEAU | G | 4 | Peter Snowden | |
| 29 | 8211x6x46x | KING OF SPARTA | G | 7 | Peter Snowden | |
| 30 | x11114x672 | LA FRACAS (IRE) | G | 5 | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | |
| 31 | 743x2223x5 | LADY OF CAMELOT | M | 4 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | |
| 32 | 18x717x776 | LINEBACKER (NZ) | G | 4 | Tom Charlton | |
| 33 | 58x142410x | LONHRO’S QUEEN | M | 5 | Chris & Corey Munce | |
| 34 | 36379×3113 | LORD OF BISCAY (IRE) | G | 6 | Kris Lees | |
| 35 | x8114x229x | MANAAL | M | 4 | Michael Freedman | |
| 36 | 7x244161x1 | MIDNIGHT DYNAMITE | G | 4 | Bjorn Baker | |
| 37 | x1141x228x | NAPOLEONIC | C | 3 | Tom Charlton | |
| 38 | x11x1x73x0 | NIANCE (NZ) | M | 6 | Grahame Begg | |
| 39 | x1502x2108 | OAK HILL (NZ) | G | 5 | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | |
| 40 | 214×111 | OLIVEANOTHERDAY | G | 3 | Tom Dabernig | |
| 41 | 6645432×32 | PAYLINE | G | 5 | Chris & Corey Munce | |
| 42 | 18x9953x10 | POINT AND SHOOT | G | 4 | Bjorn Baker | |
| 43 | 790x11511x | POSTER GIRL | M | 4 | Chris & Corey Munce | |
| 44 | 3x124152x3 | PRIVATE EYE | G | 8 | Joseph Pride | |
| 45 | 111x1x55x8 | PRIVATE HARRY | H | 4 | Chris Waller | |
| 46 | 25x66111x6 | RESERVE BANK | H | 4 | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | |
| 47 | 74x1331x62 | REY MAGNERIO | G | 6 | Robbie Griffiths | |
| 48 | 27x971020x | ROTHFIRE | G | 8 | Robert Heathcote | |
| 49 | 4x1102x47x | SEPALS | G | 4 | Cliff Brown | |
| 50 | 1515×11318 | SIXTIES | C | 3 | Chris Waller | |
| 51 | 0x1x69x530 | SKYBIRD | M | 5 | Mitchell Freedman | |
| 52 | 7x1345x461 | SKYHOOK | C | 3 | Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | |
| 53 | 1525128×71 | SPLASH BACK (FR) | M | 6 | Grahame Begg | |
| 54 | 1x02x745x8 | STAY FOCUSED | G | 4 | Ciaron Maher | |
| 55 | 3120x5167x | STREET CHASE | G | 4 | Jim Mason | |
| 56 | 79x3105x18 | SUPER SMINK | M | 5 | Daniel Morton | |
| 57 | 1212x1131x | SWEYNESDAY (NZ) | G | 5 | Roger James & Robert Wellwood | |
| 58 | 435x2223x3 | SYLPH | F | 3 | Michael Freedman | |
| 59 | 13x35039x4 | THE INFLICTOR | G | 5 | Craig Cousins | |
| 60 | 316x27240x | THE INSTRUCTOR | G | 5 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | |
| 61 | 18691615×5 | TITLE FIGHTER | G | 5 | Clayton Douglas | |
| 62 | 19x22112x4 | TRANSATLANTIC | G | 5 | Tony Gollan | |
| 63 | x21356x221 | TYCOON STAR | C | 3 | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | |
| 64 | 4x07316x51 | VON HAUKE (NZ) | G | 6 | Cliff Brown | |
| 65 | 45742151×3 | WARNIE (IRE) | G | 5 | Ciaron Maher | |
| 66 | x2420x305x | WODETON | C | 3 | Chris Waller | |
| 67 | 2x4708x19x | YELLOW BRICK | G | 6 | Tony & Maddysen Sears | |
| 68 | 4x111x755x | ZABIARI (GB) | H | 5 | Ciaron Maher | |
| 69 | x52x40x36x | ZARASTRO | G | 7 | Tony Gollan | |
| 70 | 146123418x | ZOU SENSATION | G | 6 | Leon & Troy Corstens & Will Larkin |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
Kingsford Smith Cup Form Guide
The Kingsford Smith Cup form guide details all the must know info for punters including barriers, jockeys and the lead-up runs of the horses in the field.
Standout BTC Cup form facts – before the race name was changed in 2017 – included runners drawn in barriers 1 – 6 dominating the results and the standout record five-year-olds in the race.
Looking for horses with previous experience at the race’s new home – Eagle Farm Racecourse – is now an important thing to check for doing the Kingsford Smith Cup form, which is also set to stack-up in the Stradbroke Handicap.
The 2022 Kingsford Smith Cup form was franked with the runner-up Paulele heading to WA later that year to win the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m).
The Kingsford Smith Cup winner in 2023 Think About It franked the form with a next-up win in the Stradbroke followed by a sensational Sydney in spring headlined by his $20 million The Everest victory.
The 2024 Kingsford Smith Cup winner I Wish I Win went on to run third in that year’s Manikato Stakes in Melbourne over the spring, while the form was also franked with the runner-up Bella Nipotina finishing a next-up second in the Stradbroke Handicap before her Group 1 Tatt’s Tiara win. Bella Nipotina also went to Sydney that spring for a huge campaign headlined by her The Everest triumph.
The 2025 Kingsford Smith Cup form stood up superbly, with winner Joliestar returning in the spring to take out the Group 2 The Shorts and finish third in Flemington’s Champions Sprint. She then picked up right where she left off in early 2026, producing two outstanding runs to complete the Group 2 Expressway Stakes and Group 1 Canterbury Stakes double.
Kingsford Smith Cup Form Facts
- Impending ($4.80 EF in 2018) was the first favourite to win since Black Caviar (2011) while I Wish I Win ($3.90 EF in 2024) and Joliestar ($2.40 in 2025) are the latest top elects in the markets to win.
- The old BTC Cup form races changed from 2017 with the Doomben 10,000 now the key lead-up to the Kingsford Smith Cup.
- Horses coming off a top three run have dominated the race results in the past decade and that remains a key Kingsford Smith Cup form line.
- Sea Siren (2012) and Your Song (2013) are the latest three-year-old Kingsford Smith Cup / BTC Cup winners.
2026 Kingsford Smith Cup Form Guide
A link to our comprehensive Kingsford Smith Cup 2026 Form Guide will be provided for punters below the week of the race.
Past BTC Cup / Kingsford Smith Cup Results
Upset Kingsford Smith Cup race results are not uncommon with a host of roughies saluting in the race.
From 2006 – 2024 ten of the race’s winners jumped at double figures including Famous Seamus ($21 in 2014), Hot Snitzel ($26 in 2015), Clearly Innocent ($12 in 2017) who became the first official Kingsford Smith Cup winner in the renamed race, and the local Desleigh Forster-trained Apache Chase ($12 in 2022).
There was also a double figure upset in 2019 with that year’s Doomben 10,000 winner The Bostonian saluting at 10/1, and again in 2021 with Vega One saluting at 11/1 for trainer Tony Gollan.
Notable recent BTC Cup winners include I Wish I Win (2024), subsequent The Everest hero Think About It (2023), Black Caviar (2011), Apache Cat (2008), and Falvelon (2003).
From 2017 the event name changed, and the results entered a new era of Kingsford Smith Cup winners and results.
The 2025 edition was originally washed out and moved a week later to join the Queensland Oaks Day card.
Joliestar (2025) was the last mare to win the Kingsford Smith Cup.
Recent BTC Cup / Kingsford Smith Cup Winners
Recent BTC Cup / Kingsford Smith Cup winners and placegetters dating back to the year 2000 are detailed in the below table.
| Year | Winner | Runner-Up | Third | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Headley Grange | Jimmysstar | Fangirl | 1:16.61 |
| 2025 | Joliestar | Zarastro | Golden Mile | 1:16.26 |
| 2024 | I Wish I Win | Bella Nipotina | In Secret | 1:17.81 |
| 2023 | Think About It | Converge | Rothfire | 1:16.1 |
| 2022 | Apache Chase | Paulele | Eleven Eleven | 1:16.3 |
| 2021 | Vega One | Jonker | Signore Fox | 1:16.9 |
| 2020Race Not Held (COVID-19) | – | – | – | – |
| 2019 | The Bostonian | Princess Posh | Trekking | 1:15.5 |
| 2018 | Impending | Le Romain | Champagne Cuddles | 1:19.5 |
| 2017 | Clearly Innocent | Jungle Edge | Counterattack | 1:19.0 |
| 2016 | Malaguerra | Dothraki | Japonisme | 1:08.7 |
| 2015 | Hot Snitzel | Knoydart | Our Boy Malachi | 1:09.4 |
| 2014 | Famous Seamus | Spirit Of Boom | Buffering | 1:09.0 |
| 2013 | Your Song | Rain Affair | Better Than Ready | 1:11.2 |
| 2012 | Sea Siren | Scenic Blast | Beaded | 1:08.3 |
| 2011 | Black Caviar | Hay List | Buffering | 1:08.8 |
| 2010 | Albert The Fat | Melito | Latin News | 1:09.2 |
| 2009 | Duporth | Bank Robber | Apache Cat | 1:08.9 |
| 2008 | Apache Cat | Vormista | Swiss Ace | 1:09.3 |
| 2007 | Bentley Biscuit | Takeover Target | Mitanni | 1:08.5 |
| 2006 | Gee I Jane | Daunting Lad | All Bar One | 1:08.6 |
| 2005 | Spark Of Life | St Basil | Regimental Gal | 1:09.0 |
| 2004 | Thorn Park | Star Of Florida | Regimental Gal | 1:08.7 |
| 2003 | Falvelon | Make Mine Magic | Diamond Dane | 1:10.0 |
| 2002 | Lord Essex | Falvelon | Phoenix Park | 1:08.3 |
| 2001 | Fritz | Show A Heart | King Lotto | 1:09.1 |
| 2000 | Falvelon | Mr Innocent | Toledo | 1:08.4 |
FAQ
When is the Kingsford Smith Cup 2026?
Saturday June 7, 2025What is the prize money for the Kingsford Smith Cup 2026?
$1,000,000
Where is the Kingsford Smith Cup 2026?
Eagle Farm Racecourse, 230 Lancaster Road, Ascot, QLD 4007.
How do I bet on the 2026 Kingsford Smith Cup?
Bet online or via the latest iOS/Android app with Ladbrokes.
The first step is to create an account at ladbrokes.com.au. The process is quick and easy!
Once you've created your account you can make a deposit via credit card, or any other of our secure payment methods.
Next up, head to the racing page and find the race and runner that's right for you.
Which horse will win the 2026 Kingsford Smith Cup?
The best way to pick which horse will win the Kingsford Smith Cup is to take into account the form, assess the barriers, and consider the weight the horse will carry (among other factors). Check out ladbrokes.com.au in the lead up to the race for full form information.