Annet BeckerAnyone needing a reminder of the responsibilities shouldered by Summerhill’s incumbent Broodmare Manager, Annet Becker, during her three year tenure as manager of the Intensive and Frailcare units at Prince Khalid Abdullah’s Juddmonte Farm (USA), would’ve been sharply refocused by the announcement of the retirement of one of America’s most famous broodmares, TOUSSAUD, yesterday.
Besides Toussaud, Annet’s remarkable patients included HASILI, arguably the greatest broodmare of all time, and whose son DANSILI (by Danehill), has emerged in 2007 as one of Europe’s most exciting young sires.
Hasili produced no fewer than 5 individual Group One winners (3 of which were Champions) as well as Dansili (who, extraordinarily, did not win at that level, though he came close,) whilst Toussaud, (by Northern Guest’s younger brother, El Gran Senor,) produced four.
Bloodhorsenow.com reported that Toussaud, whose five grade/group winners include promising young sire Empire Maker, has been pensioned from her duties as a broodmare at Khalid Abdullah’s Juddmonte Farms near Lexington. The 18-year-old daughter of El Gran Senor is stricken with laminitis.
“She’s been great to us, and even though she’s still young, we don’t want to be greedy,” said farm manager Garret O’Rourke about the 2002 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year. ”She’s left behind quite a legacy. We look forward to future success with her young daughters as broodmares.”
A Juddmonte homebred, Toussaud is out of the In Reality mare image of Reality. Toussaud, a grade 1 winner in California and a group 3 winner in England, is the dam of grade 1 winners Chester House (by Mr Prospector), Honest Lady (by Seattle Slew), and Chiselling (By Woodman), in addition to classic winner Empire Maker (by Unbridled). She also is the dam of grade 2 winner Decarchy (by Distant View).
Several of Toussaud stakes winners have made their mark following their racing careers. Empire Maker, who won the 2003 Belmont Stakes (Gr1), is one of this year’s top freshman sires. He is represented by three stakes winners, including grade 1 winner Country Star and grade 2 winner Mushka. Empire Maker stands at Juddmonte.
Honest Lady is a multiple stakes producer for Juddmonte. She is the dam of stakes winners First Defence (by Unbridled Song) and Phantom Rose (in France, by Danzig). Honest Lady is in foal to Giant’s Causeway.
Chester House, whose big win came in the 2000 Arlington Million Stakes (Gr1T), stood three years at Juddmonte prior to his death in 2003. He is represented by 18 stakes winners, including a dozen this year.
Decarchy, who is represented by a stakes winner this year from his first crop, stands at Magall Farms in California. Chiselling was sent to stand in South Africa after his racing days.
Toussaud is the dam of 10 foals, including an unnamed AP. Indy yearling filly. Six of her nine foals of racing age are winners. As a racemare, Toussaud won the Gamely Handicap Gr1T) and two grade 2 stakes, plus the Van Gheest Criterion Stakes (Eng3). She retired with seven wins and six placings from 15 races and earnings of $551,536.
Extract from Bloodhorse 12.12.07
Monday, November 16, 2009 at 02:57PM 
