Graeme and Debbie Rogerson are dreaming of the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) once more with their multiple Group One winner Sharp ‘N’ Smart following his pleasing trial outing at Te Rapa on Saturday.
The former New Zealand Horse of the Year finished fourth in a star-studded line-up over 1000m, which was taken out by Group One performer Alabama Lass.
The six-year-old son of Redwood competed in last year’s Melbourne Cup but was a shadow of his former self according to Graeme Rogerson, but the Hamilton horseman is buoyed by the way his gelding has returned following a decent spell.
“He went a couple of nice races (last season),” Rogerson said. “He ran third in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup (Gr.2, 2500m) and Manawatu Challenge Stakes (Gr.2, 1400m), but he wasn’t the same as he was as a three-year-old, so we gave him a really long spell.
“Bailey (Rogerson, jockey) said he wanted to be a racehorse on Saturday, he wanted to go to the line, and I am very happy with the horse’s work.”
Rogerson is hoping Sharp ‘N’ Smart has returned to his three-year-old form, which netted three Group One victories and a New Zealand Horse of the Year crown, with the hope of getting to the Melbourne Cup once more.
“He is probably going to kick-off in the Foxbridge Plate (Gr.2, 1200m),” Rogerson said.
“He is going to be nominated for the Melbourne Cup. He will run here and run in the Livamol Classic (Gr.1, 2040m) and then we will look to whether we go to the Melbourne Cup or not.”
Meanwhile, stablemate Prosper is eyeing her first tilt at stakes level in Saturday’s Gr.3 Cambridge Stud Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) at Ruakaka.
The three-year-old daughter of Ferrando showed plenty of promise when winning on debut on the Cambridge synthetic last month, and Rogerson has high hopes for her this spring.
“I like Prosper, I think she is a very nice filly,” Rogerson said. “We will head to the (New Zealand) 1000 Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m) with her, and she will either run on Saturday in the Northern Breeders’ Stakes or at Taupo on Sunday.”
Rogerson also has big ambitions with another daughter of Ferrando, Skymax.
The now four-year-old mare was knocking on the door in her three-year-old term and Rogerson is hoping she can measure up to weight-for-age company this season, nominating her for all three legs of the triple crown.
“Skymax is going have another trial before racing, I am happy with her,” he said. “She was just below (the better three-year-old fillies), she ran fourth in the Oaks (Gr.1, 2400m).
“She will certainly be very competitive in the mares races and I think she could measure up to Group company. She has always shown me plenty but has just been a little immature.”
Fellow four-year-old Just As Sharp also pleased in his three-year-old term, winning the Listed Trevor and Corallie Eagle Memorial 3YO (1500m) and placing in the Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m), Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) and Gr.3 Manawatu Classic 2100m), and ran fourth in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m).
He is currently enjoying a long spell and Rogerson said he won’t be sighted on raceday until next year.
“Just As Sharp won’t be seen out until after Christmas, he is having a good break,” he said. “I think he is a very good horse.”