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Kemp is the king of the Weetwood Handicaps

23 September 2021

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IMG-6305-1.JPGBy Jordan Gerrans

If your mates refer to you as “Weetwood Kemp” – a nickname like that is pretty self-explanatory.

Popular Darling Downs trainer Kevin Kemp has etched his name into the history books of Toowoomba racing as one of the most prolific winners of their time-honoured race – the Weetwood Handicap.

Kemp has four on his resume over the last two decades with a new Weetwood Handicap champion to be crowned this Saturday. 

Toowoomba Turf Club Chairman Kent Woodford, a long-time owner and administrator, detailed that Kemp had built his reputation and name as a trainer on the back of his stunning Weetwood success.

“Kevin Kemp is a great local trainer and a pleasure to deal with,” Woodford said.

“He really made his name on the back of winning the Weetwood in his early days and from there his team of horses grew and just continues to grow.

“He has won a number of other big races as well but to be known as 'Weetwood Kemp', you do not get that name without a reason.

“He loves having a runner in the race, he tries really hard to get his horses qualified and support the club and the race.”

Kemp’s back catalogue of Weetwood winners includes Startell (2001), Tellem (2005, 2007) and Typhoon Red (2014).

The resuming Fighting Teo was set to be Kemp's runner in the 2021 edition of the race before he did not accept in the feature race for the day, instead opting for the Benchmark 80 Handicap over 1300 metres. 

One of the four does not stand out for Kemp he says, they are all treasured memories.

While he will not have a runner this year, he detailed what it takes to win the famous race. 

 

“It is a 1200 metre race these days and has been for a few years, it used to be 1300 metres, and they always said you need a 1400 metre horse to win it,” Kemp said.

“We have had two of my winners out of the four that have won up to a mile.

“There is a benefit for trainers like us on the Downs that we are able to train on the track that has the lovely hill on it, which makes it a little trickier for the ones coming up, or we hope it does.

“It is a great race to win.

“It is our race; if we lived in Melbourne, we would be looking at the Melbourne Cup, but the Weetwood is our race on the Downs – it is great to have a runner in and even better to win it.”

The Weetwood Handicap – to be run for $150,000 in 2021 at Listed level – is synonymous with the Darling Downs region of Queensland, as Woodford outlines.

IMG-6307.JPG“It first started in 1889 by Richard Scholefield, who had a big early role in the Darling Downs Jockey Club, which would later become the Toowoomba Turf Club,” Woodford said.

“Richard also had the home Weetwood House, which is an iconic landmark home on the racecourse that still has race stables surrounding it.

“It has been steeped in history since then that has attracted a lot of great horses.

“Trainers here in Toowoomba have always been keen to win it, it means a lot to them on the racing calendar, it is that one race so many of them want to win.

“It has been around for so long this race and it is gaining momentum every year for the quality of race horse and the day itself.”

According to the Queensland Heritage Register, built in 1888, Weetwood House is one of Toowoomba's grander private residences of the late 19th century as the house was constructed during a period of economic boom in Queensland and during the development of the Darling Downs as an important regional centre.

“The grandeur of the house reflects the burgeoning strength of Toowoomba during the 1880s and it remains a significant example of late-19th century domestic architecture,” the Queensland Heritage Register explains.

“In Toowoomba, Scholefield quickly acquired a prominent profile. He served as a Justice of the Peace and was a distinguished member of various local clubs, including the Downs Club and the Toowoomba Turf Club.

“His land in Tor Street adjoined the racecourse (now known as Clifford Park Racecourse), and between 1878 and 1890 Scholefield held four positions with the Turf Club, which instituted the Weetwood Handicap to honour his work. This race is still held annually.”

Kemp, who trains out of the famous J.J. Atkins stables, refers to Fighting Teo as a big gentle giant that all his staff get along with.

Apprentice hoop Montanna Savva rides much of Fighting Teo’s work.

“Teo has won from 1400 metres up to 2400 metres,” Kemp, a former jockey, said.

“He trialled really good on the course proper. I think he will be back early but he will be strong at the finish.

“He only had the two runs in Melbourne, we decided to bring him back and give him a rest and now here he is starting off his prep again. He will build up after this into longer races.”

Resuming in a trial over 870 metres earlier this month, the seven-year-old gelding was beaten a nose around Clifford Park as he ramps up his return to the race track.

The son of Teofilo had a short lived spell in Melbourne earlier this year with champion trainer Peter Moody.

After a run of four efforts where Fighting Teo did not finish better than sixth across the back end of 2020 and into this year, Kemp sent his galloper down to former bush Queensland trainer Moody.

He went around at a big price on two occasions for Moody before returning to the Darling Downs for another Queensland campaign.

Toowoomba Turf Club CEO Lizzy King is looking forward to the 132nd running of the Weetwood Handicap and says all the Darling Downs trainers, including Mark Currie, Matt Kropp, Tony & Maddy Sears, Lindsay Hatch and Rex Lipp would love to win their big local race, just as Kemp has done so many times. Trainer-Kevin-Kemp.JPG

“Kevin Kemp is an absolute gentleman of the sport,” King said.

“There is no doubt about that, he is extremely well respected among his peers and all industry participants.

“If anyone knows how to win a Weetwood it is Kevin Kemp.

“I know there would a lot of local trainers ready to shake his hand if he was able to win the race again.”

The 2021 Queensland Spring Racing Carnival heads west for the time-honoured Weetwood Handicap, Toowoomba Cup and the Pat O’Shea Plate take centre stage at Clifford Park on Saturday, September 25th.

Toowoomba's signature race, the Weetwood, has been moved from its traditional autumn timeslot to late September over the last few years.

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