[1] Bred by equestrian Frank Chapot,[3] Gem Twist had an incredible career at the Grand Prix level.

Gem Twist had an extensive show jumping career between 1985 and 1997 under three different international level riders: Greg Best (up to 1992), Leslie Howard (1992-1995), and Laura Chapot (1995 onward).

Gem Twist began winning early in his career with rider Greg Best, including the 1985 USET Talent Derby as a six-year-old.

Best continued to ride Gem Twist for several years with great success, including earning two silver medals at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul.

She finished Gem's career with a win at the World Cup USA East League Championship (which was held at the same venue at which he won his first Grand Prix with Best nine years earlier).

Chapot formally retired Gem Twist at the National Horse Show at Madison Square Garden on November 1, 1997.

[3] In early 2006, Practical Horseman magazine first leaked a report that Gem Twist was to be the subject of a cloning experiment by a then-undisclosed international laboratory.

In May 2012, it was revealed that Gemini CL had successfully sired his first crop of foals, primarily out of German warmblood mares, and through the use of artificial insemination (AI).

[11] The colt was born at Park Avenue Stables in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, in March 2012, and he was named "The Proposal".

[12] However, Thoroughbred clones and their offspring would still be eligible to compete in Olympic competitions,[13] with Gemini CL primarily being bred to produce show jumping horses.

[14] He was exported from the United States to the Netherlands, where he currently stands at stud as a sire of German warmblood sport horses and show jumpers.

2016) - was listed as a purebred Thoroughbred, out of the mare Emirates (Pop Rock x Enamaqua, by Namaqualand, a son of Mr.

He was sold to new owner Olga White, and the Chapots' website confirmed that he would be stationed at stud in Europe, under the management of Peter Charles.

On July 5, 2012, it was revealed that the new colt's official name would be "Murka's Gem",[21] and that there were no plans to compete him, only to have him stand at stud.

[27] Gem Twist was a male-line descendant of the Byerley Turk through his ancestor, the gray French Thoroughbred sire Le Sancy (b.

Le Sancy was leading sire in France four times due to this, topping the list of stallions at stud in 1895, 1987, 1900 and 1903.

Other Thoroughbreds that show up in Gem Twist's pedigree more often include War Admiral, Cyllene, Thormanby, Newminster, Stockwell, Vedette, Pocahontas, et al.

The most vivid picture of "The Tetrarch" is the oft-quoted description of the great horse as given by his trainer, Atty Persse, on his speed, stamina, movement, and conformation: "His development in every respect was abnormal.

He was a very strong-shouldered horse, possessed of a tremendous long rein, with a wonderful hind leg which gave him that remarkable leverage.

He had that almost straight, powerful hind leg which all good horses have, pronounced second thighs, was very high and truly moulded over the loins and had a beautiful, intelligent head.

"The Tetrarch", in turn, was linebred to Doncaster (5x5), Speculum (by Vedette) (5x5), Rouge Rose (5x5), Macaroni (5x6), Thormanby (6x6x6), and King Tom (6x6).