Tomizawa, Kemp reunite with Doomben chance
Nozi Tomizawa will make his return to Brisbane racing in an effort to help his good friend Kevin Kemp’s chances of a record fifth Weetwood Handicap.
Japanese-born Tomizawa has been riding in South Korea since 2014 but is now back at his Toowoomba base where he was a leading jockey for a decade.
He won about 20 races during his time at Busan racecourse.
Tomizawa will partner the Kemp-trained gelding Kempelly in the QPOS Handicap (1350m) at Doomben on Saturday.
Kempelly will most likely have to win, or at least be placed, to gain a place in the Listed Weetwood at Toowoomba on Saturday week.
Kemp jointly holds the Weetwood record with the late Bill Neilsen with wins by Tellem (twice), Startell and Typhoon Red.
“I always like to win the Weetwood because it is the main race in my home town,” Kemp said.
“It would be nice to have the record by myself at least for a while because you can be sure someone else will come along and beat the mark.
“Kempelly ran second in the Weetwood two years ago and he didn’t have a lot of luck when sixth last year.
“It looks as though it will be a capacity field and I hope we can get in.”
Kempelly hasn’t won since taking a Doomben race in April last year but Kemp is sure he just needs some luck to be back in the winner’s stall.
“Some rain would also be helpful. Doomben has done a great job while Eagle Farm has been out of action but it has been lightning fast in recent months,” Kemp said.
“Kempelly’s last two wins were on rain-affected tracks and hopefully the forecast for fine weather is wrong.”
Tomizawa won three races on Kempelly when he was a younger horse and was on his stablemate Typhoon Red when he beat Kempelly in the Weetwood two years ago.