Kemp aiming to be King of the Mountain

By Glenn Davis

Trainer Kevin Kemp is yet to win at the highest level but a King of the Mountain crown will be a nice fit if Russian Alliance is successful at Toowoomba on Friday.

Kemp's biggest win was with Russian Alliance in the Group 3 Ken Russell Memorial Classic when it was held at the Sunshine Coast in May of 2023.

Russian Alliance’s slot holder is Toowoomba solicitor David Meara.

Kemp has won his hometown feature, the Listed Weetwood Handicap, four times but is yet to claim a Toowoomba Cup or King of the Mountain.

“It would be a terrific thrill if I can win the King of the Mountain,” Kemp said.

“It would be unbelievable as it’s always a huge honour to win your hometown feature.”

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

He then started working for Hall Of Fame trainer, the late Jim Atkins.

Atkins died aged 94 in 2010.

Ironically, Russian Alliance now occupies the same stable Atkins' former champion Dalrello lived in for his famous career.

“I used to rent these stables off Mr Atkins’ son, John, but he recently sold them to a group of my stable owners,” Kemp said.

Kemp is growing in confidence with Russian Alliance who is coming off a close fifth to the Scott Morrisey-trained Safework in a 1200 metre Open Handicap at Doomben on February 1.

“She ran third at her previous start in the fillies and mares race at the Magic Millions and it was too quick a back-up for her last start,” Kemp said.

“She’s best when she races fresh and she’s ready to go for this.

“This looks a perfect race for her on her home track and she’s got a good record here.”

Russian Alliance has been beaten only once in three starts at Toowoomba.

That one defeat came when she made her race debut finishing fourth in the Pat O’Shea Plate in 2022.

“It’s a strong field but she’s a quality mare and she’ll go even better if it’s a wet track,” Kemp said.

“She had some time off after the winter carnival last year with a minor problem but she’s come right at the right time.”

Kemp is tipping a Toowoomba trifecta.

He named locals, the Tony and Maddysen Sears-trained Steady Ready and Rex Lipp’s Cifrado, as the main threats.

“My mare generally gets back in her races but she could be in the first five as she loves racing fresh,” Kemp said.

“Steady Ready loves this track and is in great order and looks our main danger along with Cifrado.”