The Kingston Town Classic is the final Group 1 of the calendar year, and concludes the three-week Perth Racing Carnival. The race is held over 1800m, under weight-for-age conditions, and is named after Kingston Town, who won the race in 1982.
The 2020 Kingston Town Classic will be run on Saturday December 5th, with $1,000,000 up for grabs.
There are some all-time great past winners, with Kingston Town (1982), Vo Rogue (1988), and Better Loosen Up (1989) all taking out the race.
The 2019 Kingston Town Classic was won by local filly Kay Cee, who had an economical run along the rail and showed a great turn of foot at the 250m mark to outgun Gailo Chop.
The Kingston Town Stakes trophy stays in the West!
History repeats itself with Steve Parnham winning the race aboard Kay Cee, the daughter of Playing God whom he won the same race on in 2010. pic.twitter.com/ykt0tBnEFV
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 7, 2019
Kingston Town Classic Field
Many runners looking to go up in distance come from the Group 1 Railway Stakes, held two weeks prior over the mile. As is the case with the other Group 1 events in the Perth Carnival, the increase in prize money has attracted runners from the eastern states to target these races after their spring campaigns in Melbourne or Sydney.
These runners face off against the best of the local WA talent, resulting in a reasonably strong field most years.
Kingston Town Classic Betting
It is important to attempt to line up the local form vs the interstate form, with many runners never having crossed paths before. Being a weight-for-age event, it opens the door for talented three-year-olds carrying very small weights to win, as seen in the past two years.
KINGSTON TOWN CLASSIC WINNERS
2019 – Kay Cee – $11.00
2018 – Arcadia Queen – $2.25
2017 – Pounamu – $21.00
2016 – Stratum Star – $10.00
2015 – Perfect Reflection – $4.50
2014 – Moriarty – $4.60
2013 – Ihtsahymn – $4.20
2012 – Luckygray – $2.25
2011 – Playing God – $21.00