Kemp hoping history can repeat itself in Weetwood Handicap

Top Toowoomba trainer Kevin Kemp is hoping that history can repeat itself when he saddles up Typhoon Red and Kempelly in the Listed $150,000 Audi Centre Weetwood Handicap (1200m) on his home track on Saturday.

Typhoon Red is set to take on his stablemate Kempelly again in the Weetwood Handicap at Toowoomba. Photo by Daniel Costello.

Typhoon Red is set to take on his stablemate Kempelly again in the Weetwood Handicap at Toowoomba. Photo by Daniel Costello.

Kemp quinelled Toowoomba’s feature sprint last year with Tyhpoon Red beating Kempelly by a neck and gives himself a great chance to run the first two again.

“Both of my horses are going just as well as last year, probably better, and I honestly cannot split them,’’ Kemp told The Courier-Mail.

“This time last year Typhoon Red had a few more runs going into the Weetwood and has only had two runs going in this time. But his most recent run was as good as he has ever gone second-up.

“As for Kempelly, his form has been terrific this campaign and in his last run he flew home after missing the start.

Apprentice Geoffery Goold has ridden both sprinters at their latest outings with Typhoon Red running seventh, two and a half lengths behind Gundy Spirit in a 1350m Doomben Handicap on April 11 while Kempelly was beaten just less than a length when third to Mount Nebo over 1200m in a BenchMark 95 at Doomben on April 18.

Goold will stick with Typhoon Red in the Weetwood handicap with top Toowoomba jockey Skye Bogenhuber taking over on Kempelly.

The Weetwood Handicap has attracted thirty-nine entries and Kemp rates this year’s race as good a quality as any in the past and he is naturally hoping for a good result at tomorrow’s barrier draw.

“The Weetwood this year will be a really good and a really even race, but if we get some good barriers and have a bit of luck in running I’m sure both my horses will be right in the finish,” Kemp said.

Kemp has been a prominent figure at Toowoomba’s Clifford Park racecourse for over thirty-five years and is proud to have won his home town’s feature sprint on four occasions.

“I’ve been in Toowoomba a long time and I can tell you every trainer here dreams of winning the Weetwood,” Kemp said.

“Every region in the country has their own special races and the Weetwood is certainly a focal point for racing in Toowoomba.

“After my horses ran the quinella last year, they were hopefully always going to be here this year and everything has worked out as planned.’’

Leading Brisbane trained Tony Gollan who learnt his trade in Toowoomba will be heading home with The Storeman and Whiskey Allround while Robert Heathcote will be heading up the range with his smart sprinter Excellantes.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.