Turnbull Test for Sharp 'n' Smart

Media Release - Friday October 4

Graeme Rogerson has seen promising signs that Sharp ‘N’ Smart is rediscovering the form that earned him Horse of the Year honours as a three-year-old, but Saturday’s Gr.1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington will put his resurgence to the test.

Sharp 'n Smart is headed back to Flemington - image Racing Images

The Redwood gelding won five of his eight starts as a three-year-old, three of them at Group One level. He captured the Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) in Sydney, then defeated older rivals in the Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) before completing his elite treble in the New Zealand Derby (2400m). He also won the Gr.3 Gloaming Stakes (1600m) and was runner-up in the Gr.1 Victoria Derby (2500m) and Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m), and he closed out his superb season with a fourth in unsuitable heavy track conditions in the Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m).

Advertisement

Sharp ‘N’ Smart was a long way off that form during an illness-plagued four-year-old season, collecting just one third placing from six disappointing starts. But his first two starts as a five-year-old have hinted at a welcome turnaround.

After resuming with an eye-catching late finish behind the placegetters in the Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m), Sharp ‘N’ Smart carried 63.5kg into a gallant second in a 1600m open handicap at Te Rapa on September 15. He was beaten by a long neck by Islington Lass, who had only 54kg on her back.

“I think he’s back,” Rogerson said. “He had that bacterial viral issue that caused him a lot of problems last season, but he’s put all that behind him. He looks fantastic, the horse.

“He trialled up nicely and has gone well in his first couple of races. It was a super performance under his big weight last time. It’s so far, so good.

“I think he’ll run well this weekend, but this race will really tell us how he’s going. There’s nine Group One winners in the field, so that’s going to test him. But I don’t see any reason why he won’t put in a strong performance.”

Rogerson will use Saturday’s A$750,000 weight-for-age feature as a guide when it comes to shaping the rest of Sharp ‘N’ Smart’s spring campaign.

“His performance in the Turnbull will help us decide where we go with him from here,” he said. “He’s qualified for the Melbourne Cup (Gr.1, 3200m), but hasn’t met the qualification criteria for the Caulfield Cup (Gr.1, 2400m). He’ll need to run in the first three in the Turnbull to go there.

“We could look at the Cox Plate (Gr.1, 2040m), or there’s races like the Geelong Cup (Gr.3, 2400m) and Moonee Valley Gold Cup (Gr.2, 2500m). We’ve got a range of options to choose from, and I think we’ll know a lot more after this weekend.”

Sharp ‘N’ Smart was bred by Westbury Stud owner Gerry Harvey and was bought by Rogerson Bloodstock for $55,000 at Karaka 2021. His 20-race career has produced six wins, six placings and more than $3.1 million in stakes. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

 

Visit the profile page for Redwood

Redwood in upcoming sales:
Advertisment
More Reading...
Rosemont and Partners Stakes Quinella on Cup Day
Written Tycoon posted his second new stakes-winner on Melbourne Cup Day when promising three year-old gelding Catoggio took out the Listed VRC Amanda Elliot Stakes (1400m)  for Rosemont Stud and partners, who also race the second horse Bosustow.
Tycoon Star Makes Winning Debut in G3 Maribyrnong Plate
Tycoon Star looked like the consummate professional when making a winning career debut in the Group III Darley Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) to kickstart Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.
Antrim Coast to Fly Flag for The Oaks Stud
The well-renowned colours of The Oaks Stud will feature across two feature Trans-Tasman meetings this week, kicking off with Antrim Coast lining up in the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) on Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.
Cup Day Stakes-Winner for So You Think
The Listed VRC TAB Trophy (1800m) for three year-olds on Cup Day at Flemington drew a competitive field of up and comers with So You Think gelding Opening Address stamping himself as a bright prospect for the future with a stylish victory.
Kiwi Bred Gringotts Wins $3million Big Dance
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts(NZ) (Per Incanto) delivered a big payday for his connections with victory in Tuesday’s A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick.
All Too Hard's Arran Bay Brave in the Furphy Plate
Phillip Stokes admitted his preference was to run Arran Bay in the Listed John Letts Cup at Morphettville but was overruled by the owners, who made the correct decision in favouring the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) at Flemington.
2024 Melbourne Cup Result - It's Knights Choice
The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won with Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old gelding by Extreme Choice victorious.
El Vencedor wins G3 Balmerino Stakes
El Vencedor is making a habit of picking up major victories at Ellerslie, adding the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m) to his burgeoning record at Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup Day meeting.
Kiwi Bred Grey Wins Subzero for OTI at Flemington
New Zealand-bred gelding Cloudland proved a handful for James McDonald at Flemington on Tuesday, but the champion jockey was in a forgiving mood after they had claimed top honours in the Subzero Handicap.
Coolmore Set Justify Fee for 2025
Coolmore have announced the US fee for Justify in 2025 with the undefeated Triple Crown winner priced at $US250,000 to head  their roster of 16 stallions at Ashford Stud in Kentucky.