I Do sets record

I Do broke a long-standing Waikato Stud record yesterday when she triumphed in the Listed Tauranga Classic. It was the 13th win of the No Excuse Needed mare’s career and the most ever by a horse raced by the Matamata farm.

“Lady Aloof held the record with 12,” said trainer Allan Sharrock, who co-bred and part-owns the mare with the stud.

“She is getting better and better and Mark (Chittick) said to me do you want to breed from her and I said I think we’ll earn more from her foals than racing.”

She will be served in the spring and Sharrock is keen to give the rising seven-year-old one more crack at a top-flight race.

“I’d love to have another go at a Group One with her – she would be very competitive in a race like the Captain Cook,”he said.

I Do was sent out a dominant favourite at Tauranga and she never looked in any trouble. She raced behind the leaders before rider Jonathan Riddell asked her for a serious effort on straightening and they drew out for a comfortable win.

“She’s a class act and a beautiful horse to ride,” Riddell said.

“She’s got a great temperament and she’s not just a wet-tracker and I won a race (the Gr.3 Manawatu Challenge Stakes) on her on a good track.”

Recent News
28 January 2026

Patch Of Cosmo’s stunning comeback sets up Hong Kong Classic Mile showdown

In the sixth instalment of The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Road to the Derby series, Manfred Man’s Patch Of Cosmo (NZ) (Super Seth) is in the spotlight after returning from injury with a striking victory at Sha …

Read More
26 January 2026

Ardy party rolls on with new Hong Kong winner

James McDonald and Gold Patch opened proceedings at Sha Tin with a determined 1000-metre victory. The Ardrossan gelding held off strong pressure to score for trainer Francis Lui, continuing the stallion’s impressive strike rate in Hong Kong.

Read More