Racing: Retired champ still winning

Mark Purdon rates I Can Doosit's first Rowe Cup in 2011 as one of his special wins. Photo / Dean Purcell

Ken Breckon could be excused for not answering the phone on his birthday next year.

Because for the second birthday in three years he got news he didn't want relating to his champion trotter I Can Doosit.

Breckon, the Auckland-based owner of Breckon Farms which owns I Can Doosit, was informed at 7am that the great horse would need to be retired, as suggested in yesterday's Herald.

"I actually read the Herald before I got the news and was a bit shocked it was that bad," said Breckon.

"Then Bill Bishop [vet] rang and said there was no point going on with the horse because his fetlocks were too bad. So he is coming home now to retire at the farm. It is a real shame but he has been a hell of a horse and we have loved racing him."

The phone call brought back memories of Breckon's birthday two years ago when he was stunned to hear his best broodmare Sheezadoosie, I Can Doosit's dam, had died in a paddock accident on their Waikato farm.

But there was one light-hearted moment yesterday for Breckon.

A cheque turned up at his Auckland office for the winning stake in last season's Cochran Cup at Melton, which turned out to be I Can Doosit's last race in which he finished second.

"It turns out the winner I Didn't Do It got disqualified after a long drawn out case, which was only resolved recently. So we actually got a winner's cheque for the old boy yesterday after he was retired."

While Breckon and trainer Mark Purdon were disappointed by the final decision, there was little mucking around after they had spoken to Bishop.

"It is the sort of problem which won't get better so he definitely won't be tried again," said Purdon. "Which is disappointing because had he held together I think he could have been the best trotter in Australasia for another two seasons."

Purdon rated last season's Dominion Handicap and I Can Doosit's first Rowe Cup as two of his more specials wins.

Meanwhile, one of New Zealand's other best trotters, Peak, has had a setback and will not be coming north for this month's trotting features.

"He has a bruised fetlock after kicking a wall," says trainer Tim Butt.

"So we will miss the races up there and concentrate on Australia, both Sydney and Melbourne with him."