Homebred hero Tengun Tommy gives Nugent’s breeding dream an early lift

Cover image courtesy of Racing Queensland

The Tony Gollan-trained Tengun Tommy (Flying Artie) continued his rapid rise with an impressive victory in the Bruce McLachlan Classic at the Sunshine Coast last Saturday, giving his Brisbane-based owner Paul Nugent further encouragement that his breeding venture is heading in the right direction.

Ridden by Ben Thompson, the gelding followed his maiden handicap success at Doomben in early June with another polished performance, strengthening the belief there is plenty more to come.

For Nugent, the result carried added significance, with Tengun Tommy the first horse he has bred himself and now the leading performer from a portfolio that is building momentum.

A homebred making his mark

Tengun Tommy was purchased back by Nugent under the Yathroo Racing banner for $6,000 from the KBL Thoroughbreds draft at the 2025 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale, ensuring he remained in his ownership.

The gelding is the first foal from Nugent's five-time winner She's A Tigress (Better Than Ready), who enjoyed a successful career for trainer Chris Anderson, winning twice at both the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, along with a victory at Toowoomba, all up to 1100 metres.

While the immediate family is relatively quiet for black-type performers, the pedigree features plenty of depth, including Group 1 winner and sire Knowledge, along with stakes winners Excitable Lady (NZ) (Imposing), Fraar Magic (Fraar {USA}) and Maslins Beach (Flying Spur).

She's A Tigress has since produced the yearling filly Tengun Sinned (Spirit Of Boom) and a weanling colt by Profiteer, before returning to Spirit Of Boom last November.

Tengun Tommy's progress has given Nugent plenty of satisfaction after allowing the youngster time to develop.

“It's quite an experience and it was a nice win, he's a pretty exciting horse," Nugent said.

“I thought he might have done a bit better than where he ran in January as Chris Anderson who trained him then, was very positive about him, but we have given him a bit of time and he's really come on very well. Craig Cavanaugh said after the race that he is all arms and legs still so there is plenty of upside.”

Nugent believes the gelding is still learning and has more improvement ahead.

“Going past the winning post, he's sort of pricked his ears, and he looked like he hadn't fully exerted himself which is promising, he is learning but looks pretty good, he's a pretty exciting prospect, I think.”

Building the Tengun brand

As Tengun Tommy continues to make his mark, the operation behind him is also steadily taking shape.

The Tengun prefix has become familiar across Nugent's horses, although its origins are not entirely clear apart from being a clever acronym of the the surname Nugent.

“I really don't know exactly how it come about, I think one of my uncles had a company called Tengun or something at some stage and I think I just copied that. It was quite clever I thought, but I do like having that branding so to speak.”

The name reflects a journey that has developed over many years, beginning with Nugent's early connection to racing before progressing into ownership and now breeding.

“I remember I got into racing through my uncles, one was a trainer, and he had quite a few racehorses. In fact, his horse, which was called Urgency, was one of the last winners at ‘The Creek’ on 31st December 1981 on the sand track. I used to go to the races with him when I was young, and the first bet I ever put on, my father put on a trifecta, and I won about 176 dollars which was a lot of money then and I thought, well, this is so easy.

“Probably about 20 years ago I got into some ownership, having small shares in horses, but about five years ago, I started to think I wanted to do this by myself a bit and while my horses are mostly syndicated, it’s with good friends and family so I can hold control and work closely with the trainers.”

Built around the Magic Millions dream

Based at Hendra in Brisbane, within easy walking reach of Doomben and Eagle Farm and not far away from the Gold Coast, Nugent has long held a strong connection with the Magic Millions Carnival.

That passion has shaped his approach, with his horses regularly offered through the Magic Millions Sales before being retained if they do not reach a level he believes reflects their value or potential.

“I generally look to put my horses through the Magic Millions Sale, if someone wants to pay good money that’s great, if not I will buy them back like I did with ‘Tommy’.

"I did that with Tengun General and Tengun Sinned also they're in training at the moment and we will look to aim them up at the Magic Millions debut hopefully.”

For Nugent, the attraction goes beyond the prizemoney.

“It's a serious carnival, and yeah, the prize money is extraordinary, so that's why I like it so much. I love it actually and QTIS is pretty good too so there are lots of great incentives out there especially in Queensland.

“It’s my favourite carnival. We've been going for years and years now, and it's a lot of fun down there, so I love it.

“I've been a member of BRC for about 35 years, and Tatt’s probably about the same time as the Gold Coast Turf Club and the Victoria Racing Club, I love being part of the clubs.”

Tengun Tommy remains on a path towards further Magic Millions targets later in the season.

“He is Magic Millions eligible also, so I think we're aiming for another race on the 18th of July and I think he will probably have a bit of a break and then he will be back ready to run in those races in December and January and hopefully he can get to the Magic Millions carnival.”

A change of stables paying dividends

Tengun Tommy's rise continued after moving from the Chris Anderson stable to Tony Gollan, with the switch proving an important step in the gelding's development.

Anderson, who also trained Tengun Tommy's dam She's A Tigress, prepared Tengun Tommy for his first start when he finished sixth behind Toorak Jewel (Tassort) in the Magic Millions Debut at the Gold Coast earlier this year.

When Anderson decided to reduce his stable numbers, Nugent saw an opportunity to join forces with Gollan, a trainer he already knew away from racing.

“Ando (Chris Anderson) sort of dropped down his stable size and was looking to down-scale a bit, so I needed to find a new trainer. I thought it was a great opportunity to get involved with Tony.”

The connection between the two families came through Nugent's Ascot childcare and kindergarten business, creating an opportunity to repay a long-standing association.

“I considered a few other trainers, but Tony and Jane Gollan, they had their kids come to our Ascot childcare and kindly for years that we have run for about 10 years, so I thought I'd repay the favour, so to speak, and it's paid off twice so far.”

Nugent has also been impressed by the partnership formed with jockey Ben Thompson, who has ridden Tengun Tommy at every start.

“He is a great trainer and we have a great relationship and Benny Thompson has been on Tengun Tommy for every start so it’s working into a great partnership. He is a very good rider, very honest, always gives his best and gives good feedback.”

Learning the breeding game

While Tengun Tommy has provided an ideal beginning to Nugent's breeding journey, he is the first to admit he is still learning the intricacies of the industry.

Steve Morley of Glenlogan Park has played an important role in helping guide Nugent's decisions, particularly when it comes to selecting stallions and planning future matings.

“With the breeding side of things I am reasonably new to it all, but Chris Anderson linked me up with Steve Morley, and he has been of great assistance.

“The mares stay at Glenlogan but he helps me out with who the mares should go to in terms of what types suit etc, as predominantly I am looking to breed to race and just want to breed a good horse without worrying about the commercial side of things too much.”

Morley's advice has already helped shape the direction of the operation.

“Steve tipped me into Flying Artie first actually, I had never really looked at him too closely if I am honest, but Steve said that the stallion would really suit. He suggested Profiteer and that resulted in the yearling called Tengun Sinned and she has shown a little bit and we have used Spirit Of Boom a few times and he has been a great stallion.”

Nugent's focus remains centred on producing racehorses rather than simply chasing commercial returns.

“Steve was quite adamant that I did things properly, he has always said if you're not here to sell, you're here to race, and that's the avenue we're going down.”

That approach is reflected in Tengun Tommy's future, despite interest from overseas buyers.

“We could probably sell Tengun Tommy to Hong Kong for good money, but we aren't forcing the issue at the moment, I do love racing.”

With a number of younger horses progressing through the system, Nugent believes the best may still be ahead.

“There is a good five or six years of good growth and running coming our way, too. I did tell my wife that breeding was a five-year plan but I keep on extending the start date.”

The early success of She's A Tigress as a broodmare has also been a significant reward.

“She’s A Tigress was a good mare to us on the track and she has started in great fashion as a broodmare with Tengun Tommy being her first foal.”

Does Nugent need to stay away from watching live?

Despite celebrating Tengun Tommy's two victories, Nugent has not actually watched either win live - a coincidence that has quickly become something of a racing superstition.

The pattern started with the gelding's maiden victory and continued in the Bruce McLachlan Classic.

“I actually haven't seen Tengun Tommy win live yet. For his first win I was in Tasmania in a cafe watching on our phone, and then the second we were at Sandstone Point, there was about six of us sitting around a table at the Oyster Shed at Sandstone Point watching the race. I think it's starting to become a bit of an omen and then next week when he races, I've got my 45-year past reunion.”

For Nugent, the excitement comes from seeing his own colours carrying a horse he bred himself.

“He is the first horse that I've bred, and it just makes it more exciting. I've got my own colours, the red with the big white dot and they are easy to spot in the pack, it's all good fun.”

The journey with Tengun Tommy has not been without challenges however, especially early on.

As a foal, the gelding suffered a serious eye injury that required surgery and extensive care, but Nugent believes the experience may have helped shape the horse's unusually kind nature.

“It actually wasn't all smooth sailing, as a foal he must have got something stuck in his eye, and the vets called me and they said, we need to do something really drastic, otherwise his eye is going to rupture. So they did an operation on his left eye, and he's got a graft on it, and I think that's why he's so nice to people, because for about two or three weeks, he had two-hourly treatment on his eye, and there was just people around him all the time.

"So he's got a bit of a cult following in the Gollan racing stables already with his mannerisms and his kind nature.”

The gelding's early success has validated the patient approach behind the operation, with more young horses coming through and plenty still ahead.

“Hopefully he can build on now with his race wins, he has started off well and hopefully there is lots to come.”