Kemp hopeful of Country Cups Challenge success

By Glenn Davis

Trainer Kevin Kemp has won his hometown feature, the Listed Weetwood Handicap four times, but there’s another race he would dearly love to tick off his bucket list.

It’s the $200,000 Country Cups Challenge Final at Doomben in December.

Kemp can’t recall having a starter in the Country Cups Challenge Final and is going all out to secure a berth this year.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had a starter in it,” Kemp said.

“But, I’m hopeful of having a runner in it this year and possibly two - why not?”

Kemp will head to Clifton on Saturday, only about an hour’s drive from his Toowoomba stables, with two starters in the Country Cups Challenge qualifier.

Former Victorian Fort William spearheads the attack with Spooky Spirit.

Like Kenny Rogers’ famous song, The Gambler, Kemp is keeping his cards close to his chest and is not counting his money despite his seat at the table.

“Both have good chances,” Kemp said.

“They have different owners so I’m not one of those trainers who selects.”

Fort William has only been with Kemp since early in the year but has been a good money spinner after winning three times in a dozen starts.

His last start win over the Tom Dougall-trained Super Quick was dominant in a 1400 metre Benchmark race at Gatton on October 16.

“It was a good win and it was his third win for the stable,” Kemp said.

While Fort William looks the pick of his duo, Kemp also expects a strong performance from his stablemate.

Kemp's biggest win of his near 50-year training career was with Russian Alliance in the Group 3 Ken Russell Memorial Classic when it was held at the Sunshine Coast in May of 2023.

The 71-year-old Kemp started training in 1978 after driving taxis for a living.

He then started working for the Hall of Fame trainer, the late Jim Atkins, who died aged 94 in 2010.

Atkins won several Brisbane training premierships while based at Toowoomba and claimed a host of big races with some of his star gallopers including Dalrello.

Kemp eventually leased Atkins’ stable from his son John but after they were sold last year he shifted into the stables of Tony and Maddysen Sears when they moved to the Gold Coast.

“I’ve got 30 boxes and things have been going well since the move,” Kemp said.