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Trainer Kevin Kemp is hopeful one of the State’s most successful bloodlines can help bring to an end the unbeaten run of talented gelding Brandwood at Ipswich on Wednesday.
The Tony Gollan-trained Brandwood will be out to extend his winning sequence to three in the QTIS Three-Year-Old Benchmark 68 Handicap over 1666 metres.
Kevin Kemp won the Darryl Gollan Memorial, a race named in honour of Gollan's late father Darryl Gollan, with Alert And Ready at Toowoomba last Friday.
He saddles up rival Linthorpe Lad against Brandwood and is confident of his chances after drawing barrier one.
Linthorpe Lad has won twice from nine starts and is coming off a last start second to Tumbler Ridge against his own age group over 1615 metres at Doomben on April 10.
He had every chance at his previous start when third to Brandwood but that was on a heavy track at Doomben on April 5.
"His form is good and I'm delighted he's drawn the rails and he looks a very good chance," Kemp said.
"It's a QTIS race and there's not many left before the winter carnival starts so it would be great to win.
"We ran third to Brandwood two starts back but it was on a heavy track so hopefully we can turn the tables on him."
Linthorpe Lad is a son of Mahisara out of Rocklet and comes from one of Queensland's famous bloodlines.
He was bred by Alan and Bernice Cronin who have been long-time supporters of Kemp.
Linthorpe Lad's family line traces back to Bernalla, who won the Prime Minister's Cup when conducted over 2000 metres at the Gold Coast in 1979 as well as the Toowoomba Cup win that year.
Bernalla got her name from Bernice and Alan, and went on to become one of the State's top broodmares of her era, producing six winners from nine foals including Telltina.
Telltina achieved Listed success among her 10 race wins in the mid-1990s before a great career at stud, with six winners from her seven foals including Group 3 winner Tellson as well as Tellem, Vocalic, Rockem and Rocklet.
Tellem won three times at Listed level, including the Weetwood Handicap in 2005 and 2007, as well as the Glasshouse Handicap in 2004.
Kemp also won the 2001 Weetwood Handicap and Listed Brisbane Handicap at Eagle Farm in 2002 with Startell, a close relative of Rocklet and Rockem.
