Sharp 'n' Smart Ready for Summer Campaign

Media Release - Wednesday December 18

Former New Zealand Horse of the Year Sharp ‘N’ Smart is set to head to Trentham on Saturday to kick-off his summer campaign and ready for a Group One assignment at the Upper Hutt track next month.

The son of Redwood was runner-up in the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) as a three-year-old before going on to win the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) and Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m), and trainers Graeme and Debbie Rogerson are keen to go one better in the Harcourts-sponsored race next month.

Sharp 'n' Smart will contest Saturday's Gr.2 Bramco Granite & Marble Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m) at Trentham.   Photo: Race Images

He will prepare for the feature mile this weekend when he lines-up at Trentham in the Gr.2 Bramco Granite & Marble Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m), where he will be ridden by Ryan Elliot from barrier three.

His trainers are pleased with the five-year-old gelding ahead of Saturday, where he will be fresh off a mixed Melbourne Spring campaign, where his third placing in the Gr.2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) was bookended by unplaced runs in the Gr.1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) and Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m).

“The first run he struck a real bog track in the Turnbull,” Graeme Rogerson said. “He went super in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup where he had 59kg, he had to give a lot of weight away, and he came from last to run third. And things didn’t quite go right in the Cup for him.

“He looks good, and he is back on track. He had a gallop between races at Te Rapa.

“He is getting ready to go back down on January 11th for the Thorndon Mile and then he will go back to the Herbie Dyke.”

Advertisement

Team Rogerson will also be represented at Trentham by Skymax in the Gr.3 Lawnmaster Eulogy Stakes (1600m).

The daughter of Ferrando finished sixth in the Gr.2 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) and Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) in her last two outings, and Rogerson believes she will be competitive in Saturday’s three-year-old fillies’ feature.

“She went well (in the 1000 Guineas), she is probably just below the top three-year-olds,” Rogerson said. “She is going towards the Oaks (Gr.1, 2400m), so it is a nice race for her and young Bailey (Rogerson, apprentice jockey) will ride her. I think she is a chance.”

Rounding out the stable’s representation at Trentham will be fellow three-year-old Elegant Jazz in the Vernon And Vazey Truck Parts 3YO 1200.

The daughter of Russian Revolution won first-up at Rotorua earlier this month, and Rogerson is hoping for a repeat performance this weekend.

“She seems to have come back well as a three-year-old, so we will give her a chance,” he said. “It is a nice race for her and we will go from there with her.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Visit the profile page for REdwood

REdwood in upcoming sales:
Advertisment
More Reading...
NZ Derby hero still Sharp 'N' Smart
Triple Group One winner Sharp 'N' Smart is ready to put his best foot forward when he contests Saturday’s A$2 million Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick for trainers Graeme and Debbie Rogerson.
One To Watch – Belmont
We look far and wide to highlight Breednet’s ‘One To Watch’ and today’s winner of the first race at Belmont, 3yo D’Argento filly Ladies Pro, won in the manner of a horse with a nice future and in the process shone a spotlight on her sire who recorded his ninth winner so far this month.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday October 22
Here is the full list of 37 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sharp 'n' Smart Returns to Work
Outstanding three-year-old Sharp ‘N’ Smart returned to the Tuhikaramea stables of Graeme and Debbie Rogerson on Friday as he prepares for a lucrative four-year-old season.
Henry Longfellow Pedigree Gets an Update
Group I winning Dubawi stallion Henry Longfellow (IRE) is covering his first Australian book of mares at Rosemont Stud this spring and overnight in Ireland his two year-old sister-in-blood landed her first Group race win.
G1 Champions Mile Next for Ceolwulf
Trainer Joe Pride will likely keep stable star Ceolwulf to a mile as he looks to round off his spring campaign with a first trip away.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday October 21
Here is the full list of 15 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
First Win for $2.1million Magic Millions Sale-Topper
It was a full-circle moment for Te Akau Racing at Te Aroha on Wednesday when Avantaggia, the filly that topped the 2024 Magic Millions Yearling Sale, broke through for her maiden win in the Donaghys Moxipor (1150m).
NZB Ready to Run Breeze Ups Complete for 2025
The final day of NZB’s 2025 Ready to Run Sale Breeze Ups saw a further 202 two-year-olds gallop down the home straight at Te Rapa Racecourse.
Inglis Digital - Darby Swoop on Amazing Eagle for $310,000
Scott Darby believes today’s Inglis Digital sale-topper Amazing Eagle (Capitalist) can continue along the same successful mould as the likes of former online Darby acquisitions Robusto, Caballus and Imperial Force and progress on to become a future racetrack star.