Winner's Circle: John Gunther's Two for One

It's been nearly 25 years since John Gunther purchased his Glennwood Farm outside Versailles, Ky., and became a Thoroughbred owner and breeder. Even now, in his late 60s, Gunther's facial features remain chiseled and strong, burnished perhaps by the frigid winds of his native Canada. He has seen in his decades on the Turf considerable success, but nothing like what occurred March 28, when two runners bred by Gunther won graded stakes half a world apart, bringing the investment banker and stock brokerage executive nearly to tears.

Tamarkuz, a Speightstown   colt out of the Gunther-bred mare Without You Babe, that day won the Godolphin Mile Sponsored by Meydan Sobha (UAE-II) in Dubai, his third consecutive graded score on the season.

LEWYN: Tamarkuz Takes Godolphin Mile Thriller

Back on these shores Materiality, a son of Afleet Alex   out of Wildwood Flower (another Gunther homebred), triumphed in the Besilu Stables Florida Derby (gr. I) for trainer Todd Pletcher to become a leading contender for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).

ANGST: Unbeaten Materiality Secures Florida Derby

"Well, the Tamarkuz race went off at 5:40 in the morning where I was outside Vancouver," Gunther said of his long but productive day. "It was going to be a tough race because there was a lot of speed in there to go with him. But then he missed the break, wound up behind a wall of horses, and still had the heart and determination to get up and win. It was breathtaking. He showed so much courage.

"In the afternoon here came Materiality. Knowing him and having watched him, I wasn't so concerned about him winning; I was pretty confident. Still, as he pulled away from Upstart, it was impressive how he did it.

"Winning both in the same day—I don't know, it was just so amazing. I was talking to my daughter, Tanya, who was in London, and I was overwhelmed, almost in tears."

Tanya Gunther, a former investment banker, now helps manage and plan the matings for the 330-acre Glennwood operation. The results have been impressive. John Gunther has bred or co-bred grade I winners Stay Thirsty  , Stevie Wonderboy, First Samurai  , and Materiality, and additional graded winners Bending Strings, Eye of the Tiger, Idle Rich, Last Gunfighter, Moviesta, My Miss Sophia, American Justice, and Devil by Design.

The latest success stories occurred because of a pair of savvy purchases by Gunther in the sales arena. In 1991 he bought the Phone Trick filly Dial a Trick for $85,000 at Keeneland's September yearling auction. Although unraced, she has excelled as a broodmare, producing Eye of the Tiger and stakes winner Wildwood Flower. The last-named produced in succession graded stakes winner My Miss Sophia and Materiality.

"I loved Phone Trick's speed, which is why I bought and kept Dial a Trick," said Gunther. "In 2005 I had five fillies and one colt racing, and within 18 months that group won or placed in 35 graded stakes races. It was unbelievable. And I kept most of them, and that's basically the stock that has brought us to where we are today, Wildwood Flower being a big part of that."

Wildwood Flower is in Europe in foal to Intello and will be bred back to Galileo this season.

In 2003 Gunther was standing outside the back ring of Keeneland's November mixed sale when the Storm Bird mare Marozia walked past him.

"I saw her, looked at the catalog page, liked it, and bought her," Gunther said. "I was shocked I got her for $50,000. Coolmore called me afterward and said they'd made a mistake on her reserve. They were pretty upset, and they've stayed that way."

That's because Marozia's Fusaichi Pegasus   colt Andromeda's Hero came along shortly after to become a graded stakes winner and, after sending Marozia to Bernardini, Gunther bred multiple grade I winner and millionaire Stay Thirsty. Marozia's Lemon Drop Kid   mare, Without You Babe, is the dam of Tamarkuz and has just dropped a Frankel colt. She is being bred back to Kingman and then hopefully will return to Frankel. Gunther has also kept daughters of Without You Babe and Wildwood Flower, further bolstering his breeding program.

Tamarkuz brought $325,000 when purchased by Shadwell; Materiality returned $260,000 to his breeder when purchased by Venture Six, both from the Keeneland September yearling sale.

"We run everything through the sales with reserves, and the ones that don't sell, we race," said Gunther. "It's a small farm, and I need to sell horses to keep the operation going."

Considering his recent successes, Gunther's cash flow figures to outpace any tears of joy into the foreseeable future.

The original edition of this article appeared in the April 11 issue of The Blood-Horse. Order here.