Kingston Town Classic

Winners and Past Results

Held during the annual Perth Summer Racing Carnival, the Group 1 Kingston Town Classic is one of the premier races in Western Australia , organised by the Perth Racing.  Free $200 Bet

Worth A$500,000 in prize money the Kingston Town Classic is run under weight for age conditions over 1800 meters for horses 3 years and above. One of three black type races at the meeting, the Kingston Town Classic attracts local and interstate middle distance gallopers, and is conducted at the Ascot Racecourse on the first Saturday of December.

Started in 1976, as the Marlboro 50000, and undergoing a number of name changes over the years, it finally attained its present name in 2007, to honour of the Australian Racing Hall of Fame horse, Kingston Town who won the race in 1982. The distance was also reduced to 1600 metres during the 1999-2001 racing season, this was reverted back to 1800 meters from 2002 onwards, while in 2003 it was over 2000 metres.

There are many lead up races like the 1400 metre Group 2 Lee Steere Stakes in November, the 1600 meter Group 2 WA Guineas and the 1600 meter Group 1 Railway Stakes which are held at Ascot, one week before the Kingston Town Classic. Over the last ten years, winners in the Kingston Town Classic have had their previous start five times in the Railway Stakes with Sniper's Bullet in 2009 and Modem in 2004 completing the double. The other horses with a lead up in the Railway Stake have been Niconero who placed 4th in 2008 and 3rd in 2006, and Early Express who placed 2nd in 2005. This makes the Railway Stakes an important race before the Kingston Town Classic.

Also the WA Guineas for 3 year olds has over the last 10 years produced three Kingston Town Classic winners, Playing God who won the event in 2010 and 2011, Megatic who placed 2nd in 2007 and Blevvo who came in 12th in 2002. Old Comrade who won the Kingston Town Classic in 2000 and 2001 was 2nd in the 1200 meter Prince of Wales Stakes after placing in the Railway Stakes in 2001.

Along with Kingston Town, Vo Rouge and Better Loosen Up, winners at the Kingston Town Classic have gone on to achieve great results over their careers. With Better Loosen Up, winning five Group 1 events and three Group 2 events, after winning the Kingston Town Classic, he too was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame. Vo Rouge achieved 2 Group 2 wins and 3 Group 1 wins after his victory in 1988 in the Kingston Town Classic.

2011 Kingston Town Classic

Playing God won his second consecutive Kingston Town Classic, and he did it in convincing fashion. Always handily placed, in third position and one off the fence, Playing God travelled nicely and was primed to stage a big finish at the business end of the race. The four-year-old responded well in the straight, finding racing room and putting on a sprint that no one could overcome. Ranger rattled home along the rails, but all too late, while King Saul was a length back in third.

2011 Kingston Town Classic result

1. Playing God
2. Ranger
3. King Saul Then came:
4. Battle Emblem
5. Luckygray
6. Tranquility
7. Lords Ransom
8. Big Ted
9. Kincaple
10. Avienus
11. Spacecraft
12. Hadabeclorka
13. Mega Steel