Independent Stallions resident Kempinsky could have a classic winner in his first crop if Perth gelding Zidansky lives up to the potential he showed at Belmont on Wednesday.

Zidansky (3g Kempinsky-Volkster by Volksraad) powered home to defeat odds-on favourite Le Plunge when racing second up over 1650m in the Westspeed 3yo Hcp.  Winning jockey Daniel Staeck suggested the lightly-raced gelding will appreciate longer journeys and trainer Phil Humann revealed he was purchased with the WA Derby in mind.

“He cost $20,000 at the Perth Magic Millions and hopefully will keep progressing towards the Derby,” Humann said.  “But we will take our time with him and work through his grades first.”

Zidansky was part of the Heytesbury draft at the 2008 Magic Millions and his dam Volkster had already thrown the winners Baron Orczy (Rory’s Jester) and Silent Tornado (Fasliyev).  They were both by speed sires and didn’t win past 1400m but Kempinsky has infused plenty of stamina into their younger half-brother.

There are also several New Zealand-bred stayers in the bottom half of his pedigree.  Volkster is a sister to Champion Chestnut who was sold to South Africa where he won five races and was also G1 placed in the Cape of Good Hope Derby at Kenilworth.  Another sister foaled Le Baron (Golan) who was a G2 winner of the Great Northern Guineas at Ellerslie last season.

Zidansky’s second dam Row Of Mapperley (Long Row) is a sister to Getting Closer who was a G1 winner of the Railway Stakes at Ascot.

Kempinsky (Danehill – Tristalove by Sir Tristram) is bred in the purple and has close relations like Viking Ruler and Don Eduardo also making headway in the sire department.

Like them, he was a high-priced yearling at Karaka ($800K) and was trained by Mick Price for a partnership that included Walter Alteri and Sir Patrick Hogan.  

In an 8 start career that only consisted of one full prep., Kempinsky won his maiden at Mornington prior to stepping straight into the Caulfield Guineas.  He was flattened twice in the Group 1 classic before flying home for an eye-catching third to In Top Swing and Face Value.

Kempinsky kept progressing under Kerrin McEvoy and next time out won the G2 AAMI Vase at Moonee Valley.  He defeated Elvstroem by a short-head that day but his Caulfield counterpart turned the tables a week later in the G1 Victoria Derby.

Price didn’t make excuses after the Flemington defeat but McEvoy was the victim of circumstances at headquarters.  Kempinsky was left in front a long way from home and was a sitting shot in the straight.

Kempinsky initially stood at the Altieri family’s Seymour stud before transferring to Mike Becker’s Independent Stallions at Nagambie.  Zidansky was his first city winner following that of the Price-trained No Vacancy who won at Ballarat back in April.

No Vacancy (3c Kempinsky – Lucid Dream by Bassenthwaite) was put away straight after that stylish debut but he’s back in work and won a Cranbourne trial by five lengths last Monday morning.

Kempinsky sired 300 foals in his first three seasons off an $8,800 (inc gst) service fee.  The cover charge could cost more next year if, as expected, that initial crop begin making an impact in the months ahead.