No matter which you look at him, Kempinsky is an awesome stallion prospect.

A great stallion needs a great pedigree top and bottom - how about Danehill over Tristalove (by Sir Tristram) for starters?

He needs a race record - Kempinsky has a G2 win over Elvstroem and two G1 placings.

He needs to be a good type - Kempinsky made $800,000 at the Karaka Sales in New Zealand and was the fifth highest priced Danehill yearling sold in his year.

 

Kempinsky was trained by Mick Price and debuted in a 3Y0 Handicap over 1200 metres at Sandown in September of 2003.

In what proved to be a well above average event, Kempinsky finished third to Delzao who was at the top end of his five run unbeaten streak, he would later go on to place in two G1's including that memorable second to Lonhro in the Australian Cup - G1.

Price then took Kempinsky to Mornington for an easy kill where he beat the smart Noble Red over 1500 metres.

 

In hindsight the form out of Kempinsky's first two starts was very good, but you would have known it at the time given Price's colt's $10.50 place dividend in the G1 Caulfield Guineas behind In Top Swing.

Kempinsky's rapid rise to G1 level was remarkable, but it wasn't over.

The punters and bookies weren't about to overlook Kempinsky's extraordinary ability either subjecting him to a heavy two horse betting duel at his next run in the G2 AAMI Vase on Cox Plate.

How right there were to propose such a struggle between the two popular elects, the other fancied runner was Elvstroem no less.

 

In what turned out to be a gladiatorial slug fest reminiscent of Bonecrusher and Our Waverley Star 18 years prior at the same track, the pair fought tooth and nail in a no holes barred tussle till the end where only a nose separated the pair.

It became appararent how phenomenal these two warriors performed when just two and a bit hours later Fields of Omagh beat Lonhro in the Cox Plate - a full half second slower than both Kempinsky and Elvstroem had run to win the Vase. Both colts also carried an extra 7kg's weight running in the vase than they would of if running in the Cox Plate.

 

When they met again for a rematch in the VRC Derby seven days later, racing fans were split.

The result this time went the way of Elvstroem, Kempinsky though had his excuses for coming up with second place.

After the race, he was found to have swelling in his fetlock joint and after being X-rayed it was determined that the horse had no less than three bone chips floating about, most likely incurred passing the 300 metres mark in the Derby when Elvstroem gained the ascendency.

 

Unfortunately, Kempinsky missed the Autumn riches and had to be operated on.

While being readied for a second assault of the Melbourne spring riches, the injury flared up again, this time through a dangerous blood calcification inhibitor and alas another operation was needed, his charge was virtually ended before it could begin.

 

So where does this leave Kempinsky in racing terms?

Well, he must, at very least, be considered among the best 3 Y0's of his year in a season in which he beat the likes of Elvstroem, Hasna, Ambulance, Lago Delight and Exceed and Excel.

He won or placed from 1200 to 2500 metres at both G2 and G1 level (twice) all within the very short space of five runs.

 

In so far as his pedigree is concerned, there would not a better bred stallion at stud in Victoria, quite possibly in all of Australia.

His dam won two G1's herself and is from a G1 winner in Diamond Lover (dam of Don Eduardo, Peruzzi and Antwerp, etc).

His third dam is Eight Carat whose relationship with Sir Tristram and Danehill is mind blowing - Kempinsky is by one of them out of a mare by the other.

 

As a looker, Kempinsky is terribly appealing, so much so that Walter Alteri told the Breeding Scene that he'd make a tremendous dressage horse!

A $800,000 colt with this pedigree and performance - I don't think so, but in truth it reflects his impacting physique and good temperament.

 

Competition for the breeders attention is large these days, which has meant that Newlands will offer Kempinsky at a service fee at just $8800 (inc GST) with a Free Return.

Stallions like Kempinsky don't come along every day but they seem to come along a lot more often in this redoubtable family and by the greatest sire that most of us with ever know.

Kempinsky will stand at Independent Stallions Victoria in 2008 and beyond in association with Newlands Thoroughbreds.