The old girl had other ideas

Few broodmares tell a story quite like Toomuch To Do, and the remarkable trotting mare has added yet another unexpected chapter to a career that has already defied expectations.

The 2005 Group 2 Canterbury Park Trotting Cup winner and former New Zealand record holder by Britewell came into Tracey Healy’s care after being purchased at a mixed sale when her broodmare record stood at just one horse to the races from five foals. She also arrived with a foal at foot by The Pres, a gelding Healy later trained herself, producing two seconds from eight starts before injury forced an early retirement.

Then, at 18, Toomuch To Do was leased for a mating to Muscle Hill. The resulting colt would later become Bolt For Brilliance, winner of the Group 1 Rowe Cup and dual Group 1 Harness Jewels Ruby titles after being purchased as a yearling by Tony Herlihy.

Around the same time the mare’s fifth foal, Hey Yo by Revenue, was making a name for herself in the colours of Jack Harrington. Purchased through an online horse trading website, Hey Yo went on to be twice Group 1 placed in Australia and more than competitive in open class trotting company for several seasons, dramatically improving the perception of her dam’s breeding record.

Harrington bred the next two foals from Toomuch To Do, both by Peak. The best of them was five race winner Miss Yo, a mare blessed with plenty of speed but sometimes a little enigmatic in her gait.

Healy later bred the mare’s next two foals herself after owning her for six years. One was a colt by Creatine, whom she trained to win at Addington last season before injury curtailed his career after just six starts. The other was a filly by What The Hill named Angel’s Flight.

“Angel’s Flight was ready to qualify when she broke down and I’ll always be devastated about that,” Healy said.

“But she gave me the all important filly to keep the family going.”

For one final chapter in the broodmare paddock, Healy leased Toomuch To Do to Kyle Austin, the son of her former trainer, who bred a colt from the mare by Creatine.

It appeared a fitting final contribution from a mare who had already reshaped her own broodmare legacy.

But the old girl had other ideas.

With Toomuch To Do enjoying a peaceful retirement in a South Canterbury paddock and Healy focused on breeding from Angel’s Flight, the story seemed to have reached its natural conclusion.

Then in December, at the remarkable age of 27, Toomuch To Do quietly produced a colt.

There was just one small complication.

The mare had not been served by a breeding technician.

It soon became clear that an enterprising fence jumper from a neighbouring property had taken matters into his own hands. DNA testing later confirmed the colt is by a now gelded son of Always B Miki from the famed Elect To Live family, closely related to New Zealand Cup winner Kingman.

Despite the pacing influence, the pedigree still carries trotting credentials. Another member of the family, Gotta Go Cullect, produced several capable trotters including Group 3 Banks Peninsula Trotting Cup winner Harrysul.

For Healy, the surprise arrival has quickly become a favourite around the property.

“He’s a lovely foal. He loves his scratches and will wander up and take feed out of your hand,” she said.

“Honestly I couldn’t ask for a more well put together and confident foal. If I was going to end up with a random mating, I couldn’t have asked for a better sire.”

The colt’s temperament is something Healy believes comes directly from his dam.

“All of Toomuch To Do’s foals have been lovely to handle and easy to break in,” she said.

“She leaves them with confidence and she’s always been an awesome mum who absolutely loves her babies.”

For a mare of 27 to produce a healthy foal is rare enough in itself. For one that was supposed to be quietly enjoying retirement makes the story even more remarkable.

As the long barrelled colt continues to thrive, the old trotting mare has once again rewritten expectations.

And just to add to the good news, Angel’s Flight is safely in foal to E L Titan, ensuring the family’s next chapter is already on the way.

Though, if history is any guide, Toomuch To Do may yet have another surprise left in her.