Gavin Bedggood has ventured overseas with Kingswood as the Cranbourne-based trainer prepares to saddle his first international runner.

Trainer and horse left Melbourne on Saturday night ahead of a tilt at the Group 1 Zabeel Classic (2000m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.

The trip represents a potential breakthrough opportunity, with Group 1 success also likely to enhance Kingswood’s future stallion appeal.

“He’s a stallion with a good pedigree page, but he’s not a sexy horse in Australia,” Bedggood said.

“I think he would be commercial in that environment, so if he was able to go over there and jag one, that would be good.

“There are races over there in the autumn for him too, but we’ll reassess after Boxing Day.”

Kingswood is by Roaring Lion and raced in Ireland before relocating to Australia, initially joining the Maddie Raymond stable before transferring to Bedggood.

The six-year-old claimed the Group 3 Coongy Cup (2000m) in 2024 and added further black-type success when winning the Listed Cup Day Plate (1800m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day.

His most recent appearance resulted in a fourth-place finish in the Ballarat Cup (2000m) on December 6.

“Ballarat was too wet, so you can put a pen through that,” Bedggood said.

“He was great the start before at Flemington and if he gets the ground that he needs, he’ll be right amongst the action.”

Bedggood said Kingswood’s final piece of work on Saturday morning was as strong as any he has delivered.

With the return to Australia not planned until January 12, Kingswood will spend time freshening up in New Zealand while plans are reassessed.

Rory Hutchings has been booked to partner the entire.

“He was riding a lot for Chris Waller in Brisbane for the last few years and he’s ridden Group 1 winners previously,” Bedggood said.

“Jamie Bates, Logan Bates’ father, rides trackwork for me and he thought he would be a rider that would be a good fit for him, so that was the theory behind that.”

Updated betting odds and race previews for the Zabeel Classic are available through the Australian betting sites list.