Mid-North Coast hobby trainer Bob Haire will be intently watching Sky Racing on Wednesday when his smart mare I Am Serious has her first start for new trainer Chris Waller at Warwick Farm.
In three starts under the training regime of Haire, I Am Serious recorded three impressive wins at Taree, Muswellbrook and Tamworth.
The 73-year-old isn't in the best of health which was one of the reason's he sent the daughter of Choisir to Australia's most successful stable.
"She's had three starts and is a rating 66. You get to a rating 70 and that's it in the bush, it's all over," Haire said.
"There's only a race every now and then or you have to travel miles and miles or go to Sydney.
"My health is not real flash and I think she's Sydney class so I sent her down to Chris. That's the be all and end all."
Haire said he's been impressed by I Am Serious's two barrier trials efforts and reports out of the stable have been encouraging ahead of the four-year-old starting her new campaign.
I Am Serious is a $4 chance in the Ascot Restaurant Benchmark 75 Handicap (1200m).
I Am Serious is a daughter of Haire's former smart mare But I'm Serious, a six time winner of more than $200,000.
But I'm Serious was stakes-placed and won two races in the metropolitan area but her trainer says I Am Serious possesses the assets to retire a better horse than her mother.
"Her mother was a very good mare but she was a backmarker," he said. "I Am Serious has tactical speed and that makes her a better horse than But I'm Serious.
"She can race anywhere in her races and having that tactical ability is a big plus for a racehorse.
"I wouldn't have sent her down to Chris unless I thought she was up to it.
"I can tell you if they're no good. I've had plenty of them."
Haire has trained horses since 1969 when he was still riding on the picnic circuit. He said his first "good horse" was My Salvation, the winner of "14 or 15 races around the bush".
"We had some fun with him," Haire said.
Haire also has But I'm Serious's other two unraced colts. A three-year-old son of High Chaparral and weaning by Declaration Of War.
"The High Chaparral colt just went back to the paddock," he said. "He's just been immature so I've given him plenty of time."
