By Glenn Davis
Trainer Kevin Kemp has heeded advice from injured jockey Corey Brown in his bid to claim his first Listed Eye Liner Stakes with Mr Marbellouz at Ipswich on Saturday.
Kemp has won a host of Listed races in his career and is confident blinkers will transform Mr Marbellouz into another Stakes winner in the 1350-metre feature.
Brown rode Mr Marbellouz when the five-year-old ran third to Redouble in the Listed Spear Chief at Doomben on June 1 but has been replaced by apprentice Baylee Nothdurft after the champion Sydney rider was injured in a fall in the Brisbane Cup last Saturday.
“Mr Marbellouz had every chance in the Spear Chief but when Corey jumped off, he immediately recommended putting blinkers on him,” Kemp said.
“He often wears blinkers in his track work to help sharpen him up but he’s never worn them in a race before.”
Brown was discharged from hospital on Thursday after suffering a fractured vertebra, a fractured sternum as well as fractured ribs and a punctured lung when his mount Lord Arthur came to grief.
He had eight screws and a plate inserted to stabilise his spine and is expected to be sidelined for at least 12 months.
Kemp has a strong hand of landing two of the three feature races with Fighting Teo lining up in the Listed Ipswich Cup (2150m).
Tony Gollan was the last trainer to win the Ipswich Cup-Eye Liner Stakes double with Brave Ali and Alma’s Fury in 2014.
“I think both the Ipswich Cup and Eye Liner are even fields and with luck both of mine have good chances,” Kemp said.
Fighting Teo has blossomed since Kemp sent him to Sydney for a lowly Benchmark race at Rosehill in July last year.
The four-year-old returned to win his next two starts at the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast before being turned out to prepare for the winter.
The son of Teofilo regained his best form winning over 2000 metres at Doomben in May before a last start win in Class Five grade at Toowoomba on June 2.
“He’ll need to be at his best to win this but he’ll get a great run from barrier two and he’s only got 54kgs,” Kemp said.
“He’s jumped up a cog or two since I took him to Sydney last year and he should get a great run.”
Racing Queensland webnews June 14