I Do on target for second Rotorua Stakes

3 May 2014

Smart mare I Do completed a perfect dress rehearsal for an upcoming black type start when she won at Friday’s Otaki meeting. The versatile daughter of No Excuse Needed coped well with the Slow8 track conditions to post a short neck victory over the well-performed duo of Taurus and Civics Rock.

“Up until the Merial Metric Mile last year I wouldn’t have run her on a wet track and she ran second in that then won in a bog and now we have another string in our bow,” trainer Allan Sharrock said. I Do won the Rotorua Stakes last year and he is confident the grey can go back-to-back in the event.

“She will tighten for next Saturday and that’s where I want her,” he said.

Sharrock and WS bred and race I Do together and the six-year-old has now won 11 races, including the Gr 3 Manawatu Challenge Stakes.

The Corner with Garry Chittick

The two of you will be aware of my ongoing concern as to the future of our sport. You could argue I have a vested interest; well, I did have, but my interest now is to give the future generations the opportunity my generation had. Now I can tell you, hand on heart, there were many financial thin times. 1975 was my fledgling start with five mares on 130 acres that occasionally flooded with the well-bred, non-race-winning Super Gray.

12 August 2026

Classy Debut Victory For Major Beel’s Brother Savagram

From a pedigree known all too well by the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable, 3yo Savabeel colt Savagram (NZ) kicked off his race career in the best possible way, highlighting himself as a potential black-type performer.