Kemp hoping for Toowoomba Cup breakthrough

By Glenn Davis

Trainer Kevin Kemp has won the time-honoured Weetwood Handicap a record-equalling four times but the Toowoomba Cup has so far eluded him.

However, Kemp is hopeful of ending his run of outs with Linthorpe Lad in the 2000 metre feature.

He also is relying on a scratching to allow first emergency Artful Girl to scrape into the Toowoomba Cup field to give him a two-pronged attack.

“I’ve only had a few runners in the Toowoomba Cup over the years and the best I’ve done was a third one year,” Kemp said.

It’s in stark contrast to the Listed Weetwood Handicap which he won with Startell (2001), Tellem (2005 and 2007) and Typhoon Red (2014).

He holds the record for most Weetwood wins with former top Toowoomba trainer Bill Nielsen.

Linthorpe Lad and Artful Girl are both in form but Kemp is reluctant to separate the pair.

“I can’t split them as both are racing well and are good chances,” Kemp said.

Linthorpe Lad was a second-up winner at Eagle Farm on September 14 while Artful Girl is chasing a hat-trick of wins after victories at Doomben and Toowoomba.

Kemp has retained his winning rider Taylor Marshall for Linthorpe Lad’s Toowoomba Cup assignment while Tahlia Fenlon will the ride Artful Girl should she gain a start.

Linthorpe Lad is owned by his breeders Allan and Bernice Cronin who races the seven-year-old in a family syndicate along with Kemp’s wife, Judy.

The seven-year-old is a son of Mahisara out of Rocklet and comes from one of Queensland’s most famous bloodlines which includes Bernalla, winner of the Prime Minister’s Cup over 2000 metres at the Gold Coast in 1979 as well as a Toowoomba Cup win that year.

Bernalla went on to become one of the state’s top brood mares of her era with six winners from nine foals including Telltina who won 10 races in the 1990’s.

She also went on to be a huge success in the breeding barn producing six winners from seven foals including a Group 3 win from Tellson as well as Tellem, Vocalic, Rockem and Rocklet.

Tellem won three Listed races including the Weetwood Handicap in 2005 and 2007 and the Glasshouse Handicap in 2004.

Kemp also believes Artful Girl is starting to develop into a useful stayer and was impressed by her recent wins at Doomben and Toowoomba over middle distances.