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By Ray Hickson

Unbeaten mare I Am Serious has already beaten the odds just to be racing and now her owner, and former trainer, Bob Haire hopes she can begin the journey towards a valuable stakes win at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.

It wouldn’t be an overstatement to say that the four-year-old was basically on death’s door following a paddock accident at two.

But Haire’s perseverance, plus a regular dash of honey, not only saw her pull through but make it back to the track and post three impressive country wins from as many starts.

As I Am Serious prepares to have her first start for champion trainer Chris Waller in the Ascot Restaurant Handicap (1200m) at Warwick Farm, Haire recounted the time he was told she may not be able to be saved.

“I had her in work as a two-year-old and she was ready to go for a break so I put her out,’’ Haire said.

“In the meantime she had a paddock accident that was pretty severe. I took her to Newcastle and the vets told me if we could save her she might make a broodmare.

“She opened up the joint of her hock and you could stick three fingers in the bones.

“They said if she got an infection she was dead. She may heal, she may come back good enough to be a broodmare or she may not.’’

After also having both knees operated on, Haire took her back to Taree and “got at her with Manuka honey’’.

“It’s the greatest thing of all time. In about eight weeks she was fine, she didn’t swell up or get sore or go lame,’’ Haire said.

‘’I gave her 12 months out and brought her back in, the rest is history.’’

That history includes a dominant debut maiden win at Taree on February 26, and two more easy wins at Muswellbrook (April 13) and Tamworth (April 30).

Haire, who bred I Am Serious and also trained her mother But I’m Serious, then sent the mare to Waller to chase some black type.

He said the trainer’s reports have been positive and it’s easy to see why when you look at her two barrier trials for Sydney’s leading stable.

She accounted for unbeaten colt Assimilate in her first hit out on August 8 then 10 days later – last Friday - was beaten half a length by Group 1 winner Takedown.

“Chris doesn’t trial his horses hard. She is city class I think and that’s why she went down there,’’ Haire said.

‘’Hopefully she can get some black type because I always thought she is better than country grade.’’

Jay Ford has the ride on I Am Serious, the clear cut pre-post favourite, at Warwick Farm.

Check out the fields, form and replays for Warwick Farm on Wednesday