This week in Dunstan Horse Feeds’ Meet the Breeder, we spoke with Greg Tomlinson, who, together with John Thompson, bred She's a Hustler, the impressive winner of last Saturday’s Gr.3 Tesio Stakes (2040m) at The Valley.
Tell us the story of She’s A Hustler?
For several years I went into partnership with John Thompson of Rich Hill Stud and Alan Galbraith, securing a handful broodmares from Australia to support the stallions on their roster. That included Temolie, the dam of Aeliana, but also She’s A Hustler’s mother Snow Petal (Bernadini). We subsequently bred her to Ace High, and the rest is history. Before that, Snow Petal had been to Vadamos and left the late-stakes placegetter Freeze Frame. Her first 5 foals have all been to the races and all been winners, so Snow Petal has certainly been a great producer, she currently has a Chaldean filly at foot and has returned to him on the confidence of that foal.
How did you get into thoroughbred breeding?
I have had an interest in racing from a young age, the history of thoroughbred genetics and the social interaction this industry provides. I decided a number of years ago that I would dip a toe, invest a little and learn. This would be the basis of setting up an interest for my retirement years with an amount of knowledge. I had an early ambition to own stud farms both in NZ and Australia as a potential business along with racing stables. Australia was to be our winter exit from NZ. Although I put in much research, both via consultants and personally, I came to the conclusion that the commercial viability of this investment was not sensible for me or importantly the family if I wasn’t to be around to oversee the investment.
How many mares do you breed from?
Nearco breeds from 40-odd mares, all with either black type, producers of black type, or some both. The focus has been on building a broodmare band which has Australian and international significance and appeal. Enhancing bloodlines with stamina and producing reliably sound racehorses for the industry investors. As Nearco Stud is still in the building phase, most progeny is sold, although the odd filly is retained along with the horses that cannot be marketed for whatever reason. We have always been very critical of what horses are taken to the market and when presented, they are there to be sold. I have always met the market.
Gordon Cunningham’s Curraghmore takes care of the breeding operation, all animal welfare, and assists with the matings alongside a team of NZB staff. With the mares that I have partnership arrangements such as those at Rich Hill, the same process is followed with the addition of John Thompson and his team’s advice.
This is an exceptionally robust process which I have no doubt has been our success both through the sales ring and racetrack. In terms of matings, we have a bias to the stallions that I have shareholding ownership in, but due to the duplication of some bloodlines, this cannot always work.
What else do you have in your bloodstock portfolio? (foals, racehorses, stallion shares etc)
I have partnered with many studs in a number of stallions over the years, the most recent one in New Zealand was Super Seth, upon Waikato Stud securing him in the midst of COVID. Currently, we have about 10 fillies in work who will run in Nearco’s colours. Most of these are 2YOs who we hope will show promise as they continue to develop.
Best breeding advice you have received?
Don’t get involved.
What do you love about the thoroughbred breeding industry?
There’s always interest in observing the development of the individuals, their family’s pedigree pages and of special note, the buyer’s pleasure when they have a winner.
What advice would you give someone entering the industry as a breeder?
Take it slow, take advice and act on the advice rather than your own conviction.
Proudest moment as a breeder so far?
We have had many significant moments but nothing has eclipsed Beauty Generation, the well credentialed Hong Kong miler. I recently visited the Living Legends Farm outside Melbourne, we saw him again in the flesh and as it turned out, a few paddocks along was Full of Beauty, another successful Nearco horse. Having not one horse there in residence but two was a highlight.
If you could breed any past or present mare and stallion, who would they be?
My all time stallion is Phalaris (1913 - 1931 ) who went on to produce Nearco, my stud’s namesake, with Sadler’s Wells, Galileo and Frankel all hailing from this same line.
One of the great foundation mares was Pretty Polly (1901-1931). She is often referred to as the cornerstone producer of the 20th century, Nearco again a descendant of hers.
