Kempes, the Former Dark Love, Works to Find His Best Form in Hong Kong

The Argentine champion secured his second consecutive victory of the new season, this time over the Sha Tin dirt surface; at 6 years old, he appears to have finally found a sense of consistency

SHA TIN, Hong Kong (Special for Turf Diario).— It took considerably longer than expected to adapt to the rigorous demands of Hong Kong racing, but Dark Love, now racing as Kempes, is starting to reclaim part of the stardom that made him the champion 2-year-old colt of his generation in Argentina. Now 6 years old, the son of In the Dark is enjoying his most productive spell since landing in the Far East, having just secured his second consecutive victory—an encouraging sign following several seasons of ups and downs.

Bred by Haras Las Retamas, Kempes was one of the premier figures of the 2020 crop in our country. In 2023, he was crowned champion 2-year-old colt, with his triumph in the Gran Premio Estrellas Juvenile (G1) standing as the pinnacle of a brief yet decisive campaign in which he won 2 of his 3 starts. His quality attracted international interest and he was ultimately exported to Hong Kong, where, as is customary for imported runners, he was renamed.

However, the class he had displayed in Argentina proved elusive in his new surroundings. His first season passed without notable results, and while he kicked off his second campaign with a victory and subsequently posted a few promising efforts, he once again lost momentum, failing to establish the consistency required to solidify his footing in the hyper-competitive local handicap system.

The picture appears decidedly different at the start of this new racing calendar. First, he scored over 1200 meters on the turf by 3/4 of a length, and this past Sunday he doubled down, this time over the Sha Tin dirt surface, capturing the Lau Fau Shan Handicap, also over 1200 meters, restricted to horses rated between 60 and 80.

With Italian jockey Andrea Atzeni in the irons, Kempes carried 121 pounds (approximately 54.9 kilos) and pulled away to prevail by half a length over Bustling City (Starspangledbanner), who toted the 131-pound topweight (nearly 59.5 kilos)—a 10-pound weight spread that proved pivotal in the final outcome.

Owned by Mr. and Mrs. Colin Lo Chor Cheong, the Argentine homebred thus strung together back-to-back victories for the first time since his arrival in Hong Kong, an achievement that carries added weight given the hurdles he previously encountered.

Of course, proper perspective remains key. The handicap tier in which Kempes has been competing sits well below the highest levels of the racing calendar. Nevertheless, it is no minor detail that he is now winning in divisions where he previously struggled to make any impact.

In a racing jurisdiction where horses are constantly evaluated by their ratings and every promotion means facing tougher opposition, sustaining this upward trajectory will be his next test. For now, the former Dark Love is once again delivering bright news from one of the world's most competitive circuits. It is never too late to rebuild confidence, and Kempes seems intent on showing he still has plenty left to offer.