Darling Downs rallies behind Kemp’s Oaks dream

By Jordan Gerrans

Kevin Kemp is feeling the love of the local racing community as he carries the hopes of the Darling Downs into the Group 1 Queensland Oaks on Saturday afternoon. 

The popular Toowoomba conditioner has qualified the in-form Norty Forty for the staying contest for the three-year-old ladies while her stablemate Pink Vixen is among the emergencies.

While it is unlikely Pink Vixen will face the starter in the 2200 metre event on Saturday, it is a significant achievement for the Clifford Park barn to have two runners accepted into the $700,000 race.

The 72-year-old Kemp is a much-loved figure within the Queensland racing community and is chasing his maiden Group 1 glory after decades in the training game.

Kemp, who worked as a taxi driver earlier in his life, will tussle with some of the biggest stables in Australia in Saturday’s Oaks as Norty Forty bids to cause an Eagle Farm boilover.

“They are going really good,” Kemp said of his three-year-old fillies.

“I can’t be happier with the fillies.

“Coming into the race you've got to have your horses spot on and they're going really good and I'm just hoping they race like that, as well.”

With Pink Vixen unlikely to go around on Saturday, she is nominated for a race at Doomben on Wednesday of next week for her next assignment.

As of Friday morning, Norty Forty is a $101 shot with the bookmakers with hoop Kenji Yoshida set to jump from a wide alley.

Kemp is dreaming of his first Group 1 crown in the Oaks, as is rider Yoshida.

The veteran Japanese jockey has previous Group 1 experience from earlier in his career.

He has partnered Norty Forty in her last two victories.

“I have been lucky,” Yoshida told Racenet.

“Kempy has supported me, not only in this race but for a long time now.”

Norty Forty is raced in the ownership group of Breanna Stewart, Penelope McGovern and Suzanne Hammer, who backed Yoshida to keep the ride in the feature event.

Trainer Kemp had the option of booking a big-name interstate rider for the Group 1 race, but he was keen to remain loyal.

“He is here riding work every day,” Kemp said.

“I know the so-called better jockeys obviously deserve a lot of the better rides, of course.

“But, it's nice to be able to, when the owners say give the boy that's been winning on her a chance down there.

“It is lovely, so good.”

The usual path for a horse on the way to the Queensland Oaks is going through the Gold Coast Bracelet and then The Roses at Doomben.

Norty Forty has gone via an alternative route.

The daughter of Prince Fawaz won on her home deck over 1625 metres in Benchmark 65 grade in early May before scoring at Ipswich a fortnight later in a 2180 metre race.

Yoshida led throughout aboard Norty Forty in her latest Ipswich outing after jumping from a wide gate.

Norty Forty raced in feature company earlier in her career, contesting the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas before running in the Princess Stakes at Doomben over a mile.

But, it was not until she went over a mile and beyond that she came into her own.

“Norty Forty’s owners in the early days even said we really think she runs like a stayer,” Kemp said.

“She gets her head out and really looks like a stayer is running.

“And, her sprinting races weren't that flash, even though they were good. But, then once we get her into the distance, she's always showed she likes that, for sure.

“Norty Forty, we've always thought the staying races will suit her.”

There has been a buzz around the Kemp barn at Clifford Park in recent weeks once it was realised that Norty Forty was set to contest the Queensland Oaks.

Kemp has a string of Listed and Group 3 wins already on his resume and the trainer, as well as the team around him, are dreaming of landing their maiden elite-level triumph this Saturday.

The trainer’s previous career highlight was claiming the Group 3 Ken Russell Memorial Classic with Russian Alliance in 2023. 

“It is very hard for us to get a runner in a Group race,” Kemp said.

“There's no doubt because our average yearlings probably cost about $20,000, if that.

“So, to get into the Group 1 with one of them and the other emergency, we are really proud of the effort all the staff put in. They do a great job, they do.

“They're excited, the staff, for sure. Just like we all are.

"There is no doubt that having two fillies heading towards a Group 1 is very exciting, for sure.

"We just love being in the horse racing game and seeing how good they are."

The Kemp camp has been in prolific form in recent weeks, scoring a winning double at Toowoomba last Saturday night, which followed a victory at Ipswich during the day meeting.

The stable trained eight winners in May.

Alongside his Group 1 ambitions, Kemp will also have runners at the Gold Coast and Toowoomba on Saturday before heading to Caloundra on Sunday.