Waiting game: Toowoomba jockey Nozi Tomizawa after winning on Kempelly at Eagle Farm last month. Picture: Peter Wallis Source: News Corp Australia
KEVIN Kemp already has one live chance with Red Typhoon and hopes the attrition rate will also allow Kempelly into the field as he chases a fourth win in Toowoomba’s Weetwood on Saturday.
Kemp won the race with Startell in 2001 and then with Tellem in 2005 and 2007.
“It’s great to be a part of the Weetwood again. To think I’m a chance of winning a fourth one is pretty exciting,” he said.
“Like most Queenslanders, I would love to win a Stradbroke, but for us trainers up here, this is our great race.
“I was pretty lucky to get the first one (with Startell).
“I’d only had him six weeks. Debbie Waller did all the work with him, but had to go overseas.
“He was a pretty versatile horse and these days he looks after yearlings on the farm of his owner.
“Then Tellem came along and he just took us on a magnificent ride. He was related to Startell, a nephew I suppose you would call him.
“To me, he was like a superstar is to one of the bigger southern trainers.
“He won 16 races and it wasn’t as if he had a trouble-free run. He had a chipped knee, feet problems and was a big, heavy horse.”
Kempelly could still force his way into the highly regarded Weetwood. Picture: Peter Wallis Source: News Corp Australia
Kemp believes Typhoon Red and Kempelly could follow in Tellem’s footsteps.
Kempelly has won four straight, the latest by a big margin over dual Weetwood winner Miss Imagica on March 29.
“Tellem hadn’t done as much as Kempelly (winner of seven from 15) to the same stage of their careers, but he went right on with it and Kempelly needs to keep doing it,” Kemp said.
“On his last run he deserves his chance, so hopefully there’s a few that drop out at acceptance time.
“His wins in Brisbane were really good and Toowoomba is a horses-for-courses track so hopefully he sneaks in.”
As good as Kempelly is going, Kemp still has a leaning to last-start Eagle Farm winner Typhoon Red.
“We haven’t tried him on the new grass track here, but he had a super record on the Cushion and I’m hoping it was because of the uphill run more so than the surface,” he said.
Nozi Tomizawa is expected to take the ride on Typhoon Red, given he’s assured of getting a run.
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