Sharp 'n' Smart Melbourne Cup Dilemma

Media Release - Tuesday September 19

Trainers Graeme and Debbie Rogerson could find themselves in search for a new jockey for Sharp ‘N’ Smart come Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) time following the release of the weights for the time-honoured race on Tuesday.

Racing Victoria’s Head of Handicapping David Hegan has assigned the Kiwi 53.5kg for the first Tuesday in November, putting booked jockey Hugh Bowman in serious doubt for the ride.

Sharp 'n' Smart is aiming towards the Melbourne Cup - image Trish Dunell

“I think he is well-weighted. He is certainly up there with the top three-year-olds (of last season),” Graeme Rogerson said.

“I am not sure whether Hughy can make the weight, he was hoping that he would get 54.5kg. At this stage it is Hugh’s ride and we will see where we head.

“But I am very happy with the horse. If he is fit on the day and everything goes right, he is in with a really good chance.”

Sharp ‘N’ Smart has carried 53.5kg just once before, when runner-up in the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham in January with Ryan Elliot in the saddle.

Meanwhile, defending Melbourne Cup champion Gold Trip has been allocated 58.5kg, 1kg more than last year, while current race favourite Vauban is set to carry 55kg.

Of the Kiwi brigade, the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained Dark Destroyer has been given 51.5kg, while the Allan Sharrock-trained Ladies Man, Andrew Forsman-trained Full Of Sincerity, and Darryn and Briar Weatherley-trained Ess Vee Are have all been allocated 50kg.

Advertisement

While Sharp ‘N’ Smart’s Melbourne Cup will make for some interesting discussions in the Rogerson camp, the Hamilton team have been pleased with the way their Group One winner has come through his ninth placed run in the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m), although Rogerson said he expects to see a lot of improvement over further ground.

“We fired him up and he raced on the speed. He is a staying horse and we tried to make him into a sprinter, which didn’t work,” Rogerson said.

“You can’t blame (Michael) McNab (jockey), I told him to ride him up there. I thought he would sprint better fresh than he did. He went a handy race considering where he was in the running.

“He is going to get better as he goes further. His main aim this time in is the Melbourne Cup and the International in Hong Kong at a mile and a half (Hong Kong Vase), he is proven at a mile and a half, but isn’t proven at two miles.

“I think he will qualify (for the Melbourne Cup), so at least he will get in the field. He has just got to keep building. He has done the miles and he looks the part.”

The Redwood gelding’s next assignment will be the Gr.1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) at Hastings on Saturday-week before likely backing up in the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) prior to heading to Australia.

“We are going to let him find his feet (in the mile),” Rogerson said. “The race that he looks like he can win is the Livamol. We will just play that by ear and then head to Australia with him.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Buccleuch - First Stakes-Winner for Peltzer
The $175,000 Listed VRC Taj Rossi Series Final (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday was won back in 2020 by Cherry Tortoni, who went to on to become a multiple Group winner of nearly $1million and the same colours were carried by this year’s winner Buccleuch.
Breeding To Win – Crystal Ball – New Season 3YOs to Follow
Analysis of the G1 winning 3YO’s for this season has made us realise how many horses on this list took giant strides from two to three, so we are looking into the crystal ball to find some juveniles we believe could end next season as G1 performers if not G1 winners.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
There were six heats for juveniles at Rosehill on Friday morning and the winners include unraced youngsters by Cool Aza Beel and I Am Invincible, plus a Farnan colt that tried his luck in Group races in the autumn and was far from disgraced.
Romancer Adds a Second Stakes Win Four and a Half Years After His First
Apprentice jockey Lachie Neindorf made his first win at Flemington count when he rode Grahame Begg’s $126 shot Romancer to victory in Saturday’s Listed Straight Six (1200m).
Phar Lap Colours in Winning Form
Promising three-year-old galloper Reggiewood put himself into Classic calculations after his win in the MacMillan Accountants 1950 at Rotorua on Wednesday.
One to Watch – Ballarat
Synthetic track meetings at Ballarat can throw up some misleading form, but a debut winner from the Tony and Calvin McEvoy stable that started in the red and won by nine lengths is probably worth a closer look.
High-flying Pencarrow Stud offers well-bred mares in Online Breeding Stock Sale
The 2024-25 season has been one of the best ever for Pencarrow Stud, and some of the renowned bloodlines that have underpinned that success are now available for purchase in the 2025 National Online Breeding Stock Sale on Gavelhouse Plus.
Promising Signs for Redwood
Patience is paying dividends for supporters of the Westbury Stud-stallion Redwood (GB), with the Group One-winning son of High Chaparral starting to hit his straps as a sire.
Spring Potential for Darby Racing's Raging Force
Unplaced in the Group III ATC Breeders’ Plate last spring on debut, Raging Force came out of that race with an injury that required significant time on the sidelines, but since returning to full work his progress has been swift.
Marble Nine Brings Up Second Stakes Winner For Aquis’ Kobayashi
The withdrawal of the top weight in Saturday’s $175,000 Listed MRC Santa Ana Lane Sprint Series Final (1200m) at Flemington saw the field down to just six, with Marble Nine continuing his outstanding recent form to secure his first black type victory.