I Do strolls to Rotorua title defence

11 May 2014

Allan Sharrock headed to Arawa Park full of confidence in the top mare I Do and his faith was once again rewarded yesterday afternoon. He prepared the grey daughter of No Excuse Needed to win the Listed Rotorua Stakes 12 months ago and she had no trouble defending her title with a comprehensive win in the fillies’ and mares’ feature.

“Her work on Tuesday morning was phenomenal and I thought she was a gilt-edged prospect,” the New Plymouth horseman said. Unlike last year when I Do was turned out after Rotorua, Sharrock is keen for one more roll of the dice. “She’s a bonny mare and we might go to the weight-for-age at Wanganui (Listed Ag Challenge Stakes, May 31) – there’s $50,000 beckoning there,” he said.

Raced by Sharrock and WS who bred the daughter of No Excuse Needed together, I Do was ridden by Opie Bosson and he had no concerns during the race. “She cruised into the race beautifully and it was just a matter if letting the brakes go,” rider Opie Bosson said. “When I asked her to quicken up I had a heap of horse beneath me.”

I Do also has a victory in the Gr 3 Manawatu Challenge Stakes on her CV to boost her future broodmare value. Out of O’Reilly mare Freequence, she is from the family of the dual Gr.1 Stradbroke Handicap winner Black Piranha and the Gr.1 Queensland Derby winner Court Ruler.

Oilman’s stud stake could change course of NZ breeding

Eighteen months ago, Texas oilman Nelson Bunker Hunt walked through the lush Waikato pasture of Matamata’s Balcarres Stud and announced he wanted some just like it for his own.

Today he has-360 acres about a mile down the road which has been transformed from a dairy farm to one of New Zealand’s leading horse and cattle breeding establishments.

9 July 2026

WS graduate Honour Roll out to add stakes success at Otaki

Waikato Stud will be cheering on one of its promising graduates on Friday when Honour Roll contests the Listed John Turkington Forestry Castletown Stakes (1200m) at Otaki. The WS-bred son of the late Champion sire …