The Kingsford-Smith Cup is the first Group One of the year at Eagle Farm racecourse, and one of the highlights of the Brisbane Winter Carnival. With a hefty prize purse of $750,000 up for grabs, some quality WFA sprinters from the southern states make the journey north to take on the best Brisbane has to offer.

While it is a very new race in its current format, the Kingsford-Smith Cup has more than half a century of history. It was first contested in 1964 as the J.T. Delaney Quality Handicap. However, after several name changes, the Brisbane Racing Club decided to call the race the Kingsford-Smith Cup in 2017, after famous Australian aviator and Brisbane boy, Charles Kingsford Smith.

This name change coincided with a move just across the road to Eagle Farm racecourse. Up until then, the race had called Doomben home. 

The 1300-metre start at Eagle Farm sees horses face a shortish dash of 300 metres before hitting the long, sweeping bend that leads into the home straight. Jockeys drawn out wide will want to get across in the first furlong and a half, or risk being caught out wide and forcing their mount to cover extra ground.

The 1300-metre distance appeals to not just sprinters but milers with a bit of toe. Having said that, the Kingsford-Smith Cup has been dominated by sprinters over the years. Two of Australia's most famous horses over a short distance won in 2008 and 2011 respectively. That's when Apache Cat and Black Caviar came up to Brisbane and greeted the judge.