This week in Dunstan Horse Feeds’ Meet the Breeder, we spoke with Jenna McLeod, who, together with her family, bred Magic Carpet, the impressive winner of last Saturday’s Gr. 2 Timberspan Hawke’s Bay Guineas.
Tell us the story of Magic Carpet
Magic Carpet was bred by myself, my brother Brian Rogers, and my parents Phil and Jackie Rogers.
He is by Satono Aladdin and out of From Eden, a Tavistock mare who has long been one of my favourites on the farm.
She won on debut at Taupo but never got the chance to show her full ability on the track due to injury. We always had faith she could deliver a good horse and be a wonderful broodmare.
We liked the mating with Satono Aladdin as the mare is quite a strong mare and the progeny that she had produced prior had went that way, and we were looking for a touch more leg and athleticism.
We thought Satono would provide that, and we loved him being by Deep Impact, and out of a Storm Cat mare, as From Eden’s half sister Songbird was by a son of Storm Cat in Black Minnaloushe, and she was a Group 1 producing mare.
Magic Carpet was a standout from since he was born at Windsor Park Stud, athletic and classy looking with a cool character, a real dude.
We had an inkling that the cross may have worked and have since sent From Eden to two Deep Impact stallions, she has left a lovely Profondo filly in August, and is under service to Auguste Rodin.
We are lucky to have these international Group 1 winning sons of Deep Impact standing in New Zealand, and I would say we will be following the pattern next breeding season again.
How did you get into thoroughbred breeding?
I think it was always inevitable that I would breed horses. I grew up riding ponies and love horses. My family has been successfully breeding from the same family since the 1950s, on both sides.
My grandfather on my mum’s side, Gerald Shand, has been a very successful breeder and owner for many years. My grandmother on my dad’s side, Erica Rogers, was also very successful. She was a big believer in line breeding, nicks and crosses, and I learnt a lot from her.
My parents have been involved in training, racing and breeding horses for longer than I’ve been around, and they have a great record with limited numbers.
How many mares do you breed from?
I am currently breeding from three mares that I own with my husband, Dane McLeod - Songbird, Just Dance and Finest Wine. We also breed Dunnock in partnership with a few friends and family.
On the family farm at Taupiri we have all the mares. Between ourselves, my parents and Gerald, we are breeding from seven in total.
What else do you have in your bloodstock portfolio?
Outside of the mares, between the family, we have some exciting horses. There’s First Five, Freebird, Bethany Dee (an Embellish half-sister to Magic Carpet).
We also have three-year-old filly Dance The Night, an Almanzor filly out of Stolen Dance with Roger James and Robert Wellwood and also a Savabeel two-year-old filly also out of Stolen Dance with David Greene.
Mary Shan and Rambling On are with Andrew Forsman. Marshy is obviously doing a great job with Magic Carpet, and he also has a two-year-old half-sister by Turn Me Loose.
Robert Dennis is doing a good job with filly Azilee Star down south.
We also have a bunch of lovely foals this spring by Ardrossan, Profondo, Paddington and Noverre, and the mares are visiting Auguste Rodin, Almanzor, Chaldean, Ardrossan, Sword Of State and Noverre, which is very exciting.
There’s a bit of a trend with our horses. The majority of our mares are by Tavistock, who Gerald had a share in, and he’s turning into a gun broodmare sire, we all know Mr Brightside.
Tavistock has played a big part in lifting our mares to the next level.
Do you breed to race or breed to sell? If sell, how do you decide on what to retain and what to sell?
We’ve always been a breed-to-race family. We love racing horses. But in recent years, we’ve also focused on the commercial side of breeding.
Stolen Dance was a fantastic horse for us, and mares like Just Dance and Finest Wine have added further quality to the family.
We’ve made a real point of upgrading the family since Stolen Dance collected her Group 1.
We are now seeing the benefits of focusing first and foremost on type, knowing our breed so well, and at the same time keeping a close eye on commerciality and what the market would like.
We have had three yearlings accepted to Karaka Book 1 for January 2026, an Almanzor filly out of Just Dance, a Profondo filly out of Songbird and a Noverre colt out of Finest Wine who will all head that way.
Nick and Nicole at Carlaw Park did a great job presenting Magic Carpet, and we are very pleased to work with them again and they will be under their draft.
All three are closely related to Magic Carpet and Stolen Dance, and we are delighted with their development.
Do you seek advice on your breeding decisions?
We don’t use any breeding professionals as such but always listen and research. Of course there are always plenty of discussions between me, Dane and the rest of the family.
I enjoy the quest and challenge of breeding, always looking to upgrade and strengthen our female families.
We are extremely grateful to studs like Windsor Park, Waikato, Cambridge and Rich Hill. The way they communicate, get to know our mares and work as a team, it plays a big part in the results and the process.
Best breeding advice you have received?
Always listen. Also, stick to your guns if you believe in something. Trust your mares.
It’s all about upgrading mares (it doesn’t always have to be the most expensive stallion) and having an idea of the type of horse you’re trying to breed.
Thankfully, Magic Carpet is a great example of that. He is exactly what we wanted and imagined for From Eden, and Satono Aladdin did the job beautifully.
What do you love about the thoroughbred breeding industry?
The people, for sure. When you get success, to do it with people you know and love, it doesn’t get any better.
I also love the way the industry supports you when you have success and is compassionate, and have empathy when things go wrong (because it’s a tough game and it doesn’t always go to plan). It’s a unique and amazing industry.
What advice would you give someone entering the industry as a breeder?
Go in with your eyes open. It’s a tough game but a rewarding one. We do it because we love it, and we love the horse. Like life, you need a bit of luck - but when you get success, celebrate it accordingly. A maiden win anywhere, should be treated and celebrated just as much as a big race.
Proudest moment as a breeder so far?
Breeding Stolen Dance and racing her with a great group of friends and family was pretty special.
She’s been the avenue for Dane and I to re-invest, and she’s been our catalyst, and we owe everything to her and her amazing dam Songbird.
Magic Carpet comes pretty close too. That was a huge thrill, especially with him being such an untapped colt. With the trainer he has, who knows where he could end up? It’s very exciting.
That said, we love every horse we breed and rear. Horses play a massive part in my life, and I really have a passion for them.
If you could breed any past or present mare and stallion, who would they be?
I’ve been lucky enough to do a lot of travel and live overseas for a while and see some great international racing.
I’d go with a dead-heat between Frankel - I saw him win at Royal Ascot - and Galileo, who I visited at Coolmore in Ireland.
Let’s match them with Winx, who I was lucky enough to see win her third Cox Plate. She was amazing.
