Sharp 'n' Smart Return Looming

Media Release - Wednesday December 21

Sharp ‘N’ Smart will mark the start of the new year by making his first public appearance since finishing runner-up in the Gr.1 VRC Derby (2500m).

Sharp 'n' Smart won the G1 Spring Champion Stakes - image Steve Hart

The Graeme and Debbie Rogerson-trained gelding will have an exhibition gallop between races at Te Rapa on New Year’s Day as he builds towards another Australian campaign.

“He is great at the moment,” Debbie Rogerson told RadioTAB on Tuesday. “He came home, had a break in his paddock and came back into his box at night.

“We’re looking to give him an exhibition gallop on New Year’s Day at Te Rapa over 1000m and then we’re going to work out what direction we go with the horse.”

Rogerson said the Group One winning son of Redwood would have at least two starts in New Zealand before the focus turns to Sydney with the Gr.2 Life Direct Wellington Guineas (1400m) at Trentham the most likely kick-off point.

“He is proven at a mile and 2000m and was a bit unlucky that he didn’t quite see that other horse (Manzoice) coming in the Derby, so I think he is pretty versatile,” Rogerson said.

Advertisement

“He has really started to strengthen up and hopefully in the autumn it is his turn and we can go back to Melbourne in the spring with him. It is exciting to have such a good horse.”

The smart three-year-old is likely to take on older horses in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa on February 11 and also holds a nomination for the $1 million Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) at the same venue on March 4.

Sharp ‘N’ Smart was a gutsy winner of the Gr.1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) in Sydney a week prior to backing up in the VRC Derby.

The Tuhikaramea-trained galloper is likely to be targeted at Sydney through the autumn with the Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) and Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) on the agenda. - NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Saturday June 28
Here is the full list of 109 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Cambridge Stud to Sell Entire Draft at Karaka 2026
Leading thoroughbred nursery Cambridge Stud have committed their full support for NZB’s 2026 National Yearling Sales Series, with the announcement they will be selling 100% of their yearling stock at Karaka. 
Big Pedigrees Don’t Always Spell Black Type
The breeding of thoroughbreds is a very inexact science which is why we saw siblings to a pair of Group I winners fighting out the finish of a very pedestrian 1100m maiden at Ballarat on Sunday.
Aussie 2YO SW for Tivaci
New Zealand-bred colt Matahga stamped himself as an exciting spring three-year-old prospect with a hard-fought victory in the A$120,000 Listed David Peacock Oaklands Plate (1400m) at Morphettville on Saturday.
How Much for a Snitzel Colt from Winx?
The record price for a yearling by the late champion sire Snitzel stands at $2.8million, but that benchmark looks set to be smashed at Inglis Easter next year.
Vinery Stud Announce Adam White as Interim Manager
From the 1st of July, Vinery Stud is pleased to announce the appointment of Adam White as Interim General Manager, following the resignation of Peter Orton. A dedicated and long-standing member of the Vinery team, Adam brings a wealth of experience and an in-depth understanding of both the business and the industry to this pivotal role.
Promising 2YOs for Pike
Tony Pike found it difficult to split his juvenile charges the last time they took each other on and it’s the same story at Ruakaka.
Better Than Ready’s Metalart Wins Group 3 W J Healy Stakes
Improving off a third in the Listed Lightning Handicap at Eagle Farm recently, 4yo Better Than Ready gelding Metalart stepped up to 1200m to record his first black type success, winning the Group 3 W J Healy Stakes.
Unbeaten So You Think 3YO WA's New Excitement Machine
One month to the day since he first set foot on a racecourse, So You Think’s three year old son  Opportunistic remains undefeated from three starts, is a dual stakes winner with earnings of $200,250 to his name, and is WA's new rising star of the turf.
$3million Won Through Inglis Xtra Bonus
A staggering $3m has now been won as part of the Inglis Xtra Bonus Series following today’s victory by the Cody Morgan-trained 3YO Considered at Dubbo.