The Kingman reign over NZ could continue for years
Adam Hamilton • November 23rd, 2025 2:34 PM • 4 min read
Leviathan owner Mick Harvey has just left New Zealand, but can’t wait to return.
Harvey said his two weeks in Christchurch with Kingman were “by far” the best and most enjoyable of his many years in racing.
Remember, Harvey was a part-owner of the great King Of Swing, who won a record three Miracle Miles and two Hunter Cups.
Harvey and trainer-driver Luke McCarthy both spoke openly about returning to defend Kingman’s NZ Cup title next year.
“He’s so young and still on the up … he’s the sort of horse who could come back again and again and again for this race,” McCarthy said.
“He walks like one of those great old Kiwi stayers.”
Harvey added: “Of course I want more of this. It’s just been the most amazing couple of weeks.
“I think he’s only going to keep improving and he loved it here so much, we’d absolutely love to come back next year.”
But Kiwis won’t have that long to see Kingman in the flesh again.
Harvey confirmed the $1 million Race by Betcha at Cambridge in April was a target.
“Absolutely it is,” he said. “I’ve spoken to the club to let them know that.”
“I’ve already had heaps of people asking me, especially Kiwis … the answer is yes.”
More immediately, Kingman will chase a $1 million bonus through a six-race series in Victoria’s Summer of Glory.
McCarthy said Kingman would have a short freshen-up at his Cobbitty property before aiming at the first of the six legs of the series, the $75,000 Group 2 Bendigo Cup on January 10.
“It’s likely we’ll go to the first two and then work the rest out from there,” he said.
The second leg is the $50,000 Shepparton Gold Cup on January 17.
The bonus will be paid to any pacer which can win four of the six races, but it must include the $250,000 Group 1 Hunter Cup at Melton on February 14.
Kingman will then aim at the $1 million Miracle Mile in March before the Cambridge raid.
