Sharp ‘N’ Smart’s Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) campaign hangs in the balance, with his performance in Saturday’s Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) at Ellerslie dictating whether he continues on that path.
The former New Zealand Horse of the Year has had three starts to date this preparation, and while he was unplaced in all three, co-trainer Graeme Rogerson has been pleased with his efforts.
“He has had a couple of runs and they have been very good,” said Rogerson, who trains in partnership with his wife Debbie. “He is getting up to a distance that suits him.”
Sharp ‘N’ Smart will be ridden in Saturday’s feature by George Rooke, and Rogerson said he received good feedback from the expat Englishman after he rode his charge in a track gallop on Tuesday morning.
“George Rooke is riding him on Saturday, he came and worked him on Tuesday and I am happy with him,” he said. “I think he will run well.”
The six-year-old son of Redwood was among the 53 acceptors in the second declarations for the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday, but Rogerson said a trip across the Tasman requires a bold showing this weekend.
“We will see what happens on Saturday and see where his future lies,” he said.
If Sharp ‘N’ Smart fails to flatter on Saturday, Rogerson is looking at Cups targets closer to home.
“He will run in the Cups, he just wants a drier track,” he said. “He has had his issues, but I think he has still got it there, but we will soon see.”
Sharp ‘N’ Smart will be met in the Livamol by stablemate Solidify, and Rogerson is looking forward to testing his Group Two performer at elite-level once again.
“He is as good as I have had him, so we thought we would run him in the Livamol, and Masa Hashizume rides,” Rogerson said.
“It was a good run at Hawera (last start for third), but it was a touch wet for him. He ran a nice race, so we will run him and see where he stands. There is some nice racing coming up.”
On the undercard at Ellerslie, Rogerson is upbeat about the chances of Group Three performer Skymax in the Kingmakers Syndication 1400.
“I think she is a pretty good horse,” he said.
The stable will also head to Trentham on Saturday where they will be represented by Mission Complete in the maiden three-year-old 1200m and juvenile debutant Swiss Miss in the two-year-old 800m event.
“I like the two-year-old,” Rogerson said. “I trialed her with blinkers on, things didn’t go right, so I took them off. She is working well, and I think she will run a race.
“I like Mission Complete. He had no luck at Avondale.”
A day prior at Matamata, the stable will have a five-strong team, including four runners in the RBC Racing 2000 – Ferdie’s Secret, Great Adventure, The Negotiator and Sarracina. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
