Client Spotlight - Mark Nickel

Mark Nickel doesn’t just love racing, he’s lived it in many ways for most of his life.

The Wellington based breeder had always had an affinity for the racing game, following racing, attending race meetings around the Wellington area, back when Hutt Park was still going.

“I was born and bred in Kilbirnie, now we live in Lower Hutt.”

“I’ve travelled around a bit working over the years, but Wellington certainly has always been home,” Mark explained.

Mark and wife Jill

“I had followed the racing for awhile, but it was through a guy named Dave Mobberley who was based in Auckland as a freight forwarder who got me into ownership.”

“He introduced me to Jason Enright down in Southland, and we ended up owning a couple of horses.”

His first horse he owned was Alaskan Admiral, who won two races in 2001 before being exported to Australia.

“Around that time I started working as an agent for the TAB, I ran the Wainui, Upper Hutt and Naenae outlets so I was running three agencies for awhile.”

“That’s when I got into the breeding side of it.”

Mark ventured to the Auckland all-age sale and that’s where he purchased his first broodmare in Inga’s Star. He went back a year later and purchased Gwyneth who was in foal to Presidential Ball.

Inga’s Star was an unraced pacing mare by Soky’s Atom and was a half sister to the talented Traitor’s Gate, who won ten races in New Zealand before being sold to the States.   

Mark named the first foal he bred Naenae Tabman, a fond nod to his work, and the horse went on to win four races.

He then bred from Gwyneth, a race winning Soky’s Atom mare who was a full sister to Barney Burt (6 wins) and half to Lucky Olivia (5 wins).

“I remember walking away from buying Gwyneth at the all age sale and she was in foal to Presidential Ball, I got her for less than the service fee and I really liked Presidential Ball so I was thrilled.”

The first foal Gwyneth produced for Mark was Wainui Tabman, who won one before being sold to the USA.

The horses gained a bit of a following from Mark’s clients.

“They became like marketing tools, and all the locals liked to follow them.”

Gwyneth also left the consistent performer, Contractual Issues, who won six races and raced from age two, right through to nine-years-old.

“Wainui Tabman was a good one, I was fond of him. I also enjoyed watching Lady Penrose (out of Gwyneth, 2 wins), I made it down to Christchurch to watch her win and I had Smitten run third that day too. I was able to celebrate that down there.”

Mark purchased Smitten, at the yearling sales and she was his first step into the breeding world.

Out of Kahola, she hailed from the family of the great Lyell Creek, sharing the same grandam in Kahu Del. She is also a full sister to Kahdon.

Smitten was a race winner from just 14 starts, and has been a wonderful producer at stud.

She’s left Tres Magnifique (4 wins), Kahress (7 wins), Kantdoitalone (2 wins) and BD Hall (3 wins).

Kahress is by Muscle Hill and placed third at group three level she also finished fourth at group and listed level on three occasions.

Kahress

Mark also raced Sinner Cool who he leased to race from Ivan McNicholl.

Sinner Cool is a Sundon mare won two races and was out of Eilish Aimee, making her a half sister to Little Whip and Ocean Eyes.

Currently Mark is breeding from Sinner Cool and Kahress, with weanlings on the ground.

“Kahress has a nice Orlando Vici named Fast Kah with Robbie now, I looked through the family and all the good horses have had that ‘Kah’ prefix so I’ve tried to keep with it.”

“Kahress has a Father Patrick filly I have called Kahnoodle.”

“While Sinner Cool has an On A Streak filly I’ve named Lodger Cool.”

“I really do enjoy naming them, I put a bit of thought into it and find it a fun part of the breeding process.”

“I’d have to say the breeding part is my highlight of being in the industry. It can be very rewarding.”

When it comes to choosing a stallion Mark likes to investigate golden crosses and success through siblings.

“I enjoy the process of stallion selection, it’s a great result when you get it right and see the foals come out and perform.”

Being based in Wellington has meant that Mark’s horses are racing outside of the district.

“Hutt Park was only really a training base for those travelling through then, so I had to look for trainers outside of here.”

“It’s sad really because Hutt Park had had some great horses race there over the years.”

“Most of the horses I have had with Robbie Homes, I was introduced to him through Jason Enright back when we had Alaskan Admiral.”

“I talk with Robbie quite regularly, and Carla, so I’m always kept in the loop and I don’t feel that far away.”

His association with Wai Eyre Farm stems back as far as when he purchased Gwyneth in 2003.

“I had to send her south after I bought her, so she went to Wai Eyre.”

“I have had a great relationship with the farm, obviously not being close by I trust them to look after the horses and they do a great job. I’m always keep informed and the horses are treated well.”

“It’s been a long positive association.”

Although Mark has bred both gaits, one has his heart completely.

“I started off breeding pacers, but my passion certainly now is for the trotters.”

“I just love seeing a horse with no gear, just going full speed it’s magical to watch.”

“Mind you, when they do the breaky breaky thing it’s hard to watch and it’s hard on your wallet,” laughed Mark.

Mark’s wife Jill has been associated through his involvement and breeds via the Tabman tag.

“She’s not always that into it, I named one after her that turned out not to be so good, so that didn’t help there,” Mark laughed.

And whilst still breeding horses and waiting for younger ones to come through, Mark is still involved with the TAB.

“I still work two or three days a week at the TAB here, it keeps me busy,” Mark said.

“And I guess the funny thing is about owning horses and working at a TAB is that everyone follows your horses.”

“They like to give me grief when they don’t do so well, but then when they do win I feel like I am sharing it with all of them. That’s the great part about it, you feel like you’re not in it alone.”