Il Tempo was a champion New Zealand thoroughbred racehorse, by Time and Again out of Timing. He is probably New Zealand's greatest ever stayer, having won the Auckland Cup two times, and also the Wellington Cup once. The Wellington Cup was over 2 miles and he won it in a World Record time of 3:16.2, a record which still stands today. Il Tempo also won the Chalmers Handicap over two miles, plus being placed over the two mile distance several times. He was trained by Mr Bruce Prescott, a butcher by trade. Normally he was ridden by jockey Noel D Riordan.