Photo: Warren Buckland
In this week's edition of Dunstan HorseFeeds Meet the Breeder, we chat with Gail Temperton, who along with partner Stan Alexander under the banner of Taikorea Thoughbreds bred Mark Twain the recent winner of the Listed VRC Lexus Roy Higgins Handicap.
Tell us the story of Mark Twain?
Taikorea Thoroughbreds is a small breeding farm owned by myself and partner Stan Alexander.
Although I am hands on operator Stan supports me and enjoys all results of our efforts.
We purchased his dam Pinders Prize about 13 years ago at Karaka.
We chose her as she was a close relative to Pentathon ( by Pentire), but also as she is a fine looking mare who raced three times with three placings before retiring due to injury.
We sent her to Pentire, and she produced Pentathlon who was sold at Karaka, and trained by John Wheeler. He won five races and was placed at group two level and competed well in the 2016 Melbourne Cup.
Pinders Prize then produced Startled by Shocking who we own a share in.
Startled sold well at Karaka and went to Queensland where he won two out of two before injury ended his career.
Mark Twain was her next foal as we only breed her every second year.
He was broken in at Otaki by Buddy Lammas and prepared for Ready to Run sale during Covid. He was a smashing young horse like all her colt foals. Thats when OTI purchased him.
His three-quarter brother was his companion during sale prep, he is Samual Langhorne (Shocking -Nosecondprize) who races successfully for Mick Kent Snr .
Her last foal is a gelded two-year-old son of Vadamos who we will sell as Stan and I are no longer young and have a business interest that does not require our input like horses do.
We still own two daughters of Pinders Prize including Mark Twain’s full sister Surprizing, who we are breeding from.
What made you interested in breeding horses and how did you get into it?
My father was a racehorse trainer, and his brother Eric Temperton trained Silver Knight the Melbourne Cup winner in 1971 and in 1972 Magnifique was second in the cup for him.
Breeding is a lot of work and expensive but very rewarding when you get it right. Stan and I established a relationship /friendship with Rich Hill Stud when we purchased a Zabeel filly from then in 2003. We have continued to be loyal clients.
What makes you so passionate about the NZ thoroughbred breeding industry?
The horses and the friendships
How many mares do you breed from?
Four mares, it’s plenty as we are not so young anymore.
What else do you have in your bloodstock portfolio (youngstock, racehorses, stallion shares etc)?
We have a share in Proisir and we recently sold a share in Shocking.
Do you seek advice on your breeding decisions?
Not really apart from John Thompson we usually go by nicks or previous successes.
Proudest moment as a breeder?
Training our first home bred Just Ishi who we had nursed back to heath as a foal, he was my first training success and he continued winning. He won 11 races and still resides in our front paddock with the now retired Pinders Prize.
Finish this sentence…the best part about being a thoroughbred breeder is….
Breeding Mark Twain and having his owners send him to the wonderful trainer, Roger James.
