Sharp ‘N’ Smart set to tackle Australian Derby and Queen Elizabeth Stakes
Kiwi raider Sharp ‘N’ Smart could be in for a huge 2023.
Last year’s Spring Champion Stakes winner is set to target races like the Queen Elizabeth Stakes and could also find himself lining up in a Melbourne Cup in spring.
Sharp ‘N’ Smart is already a Group 1 winner this year having taken out the Herbie Dyke Stakes and now sets sights on Saturday’s New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie.
“He’s getting better all the time, he’s just mentally immature but physically he’s very strong,” Rogerson said.
“Struck a heavy track first-up and he goes in the wet but he’s better on top of it and he got beat that day but he ran super.
“He’ll head to the (New Zealand) Derby next and then he’s coming to Sydney for the Australian Derby and the Queen Elizabeth.”
TAB rates the son of Redwood as the $2.20 favourite for Saturday’s NZ Derby while he’s a $4.50 chance for the Australian Derby.
Mongolian Khan (2015) was the last Kiwi to complete the NZ Derby-Australian double.
He was last seen when finishing second to Manzoice in the Victorian Derby but returns for his third Australian campaign as an improved product.
“I think he’s improved a lot since he was last there in the Victorian Derby when he got left in front but still fought on to finish second,” Rogerson said.
“The trip to Queensland was the making on him, Hugh Bowman likes him and he’s coming down to ride him.”
Rogerson thinks Sharp ‘N’ Smart has the makings to become one of the great New Zealand raiders to embark on Australian shores and will throw in nominations for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups and wouldn’t rule out the Cox Plate.
“He’ll kick off here and certainly be nominated for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups so if we go that way or even the Cox Plate is all on the cards,” Rogerson said.
“He’s got the makings of a very good horse.”
The stable are set to have a heavy hand in the Sydney autumn with talented filly Savacat to be set for the Australian Oaks while they are also sending two juveniles over.
“We’re looking at bringing Savacat over for the Oaks, she ran second the other day in a staying race against the older horses and she runs again in a fillies race on Derby Day,” Rogerson said.
“We’ll run here in the New Zealand Oaks and then give her a crack in the Australian Oaks so we should have a strong team this year.
“We’re bringing a few two-year-olds with us as well, one for the Percy Sykes (Madam Pannino) and the other for the Champagne (He Reigns).”
Kiwi fillies Prowess and Legarto sit atop of betting for the Australian Oaks where Savacat is currently a $51 chance.
