Comeback galloper Sharp ‘N’ Smart out to set up Caulfield Cup start in Turnbull Stakes

Illness floored Sharp ‘N’ Smart last spring but the former high-class three-year-old will continue his comeback in Saturday’s Group 1 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington.

Turnbull Stakes hopeful Sharp ‘N’ Smart has one thing in common with his co-trainer Graeme Rogerson.

They are both on the way back to full fitness.

Melbourne Cup and Cox Plate-winning trainer Rogerson is recovering from major heart surgery in July in which he underwent a triple bypass, requiring arteries to be grafted from his leg.

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While the 75-year-old Rogerson is back at home in New Zealand, his daughter and training partner Debbie is overseeing Sharp ‘N’ Smart’s Melbourne preparation.

Sharp ‘N’ Smart has had his share of issues in recent times with illness picked up on a trip to the Hastings Racecourse prematurely ending his last spring campaign and impacting his autumn preparation.

“It’s a five-and-a-half-hour float trip from where we live down to Hastings and he picked up a bacterial virus in his blood so it really knocked him out on his feet,” Debbie Rogerson said.

“We tried to get it all back on track again and we thought we did.

“He had a couple of good runs but we still weren’t 100 per cent happy so we turned him out and gave him a good three-month spell.”

Sharp 'N' Smart will be out to recapture his three-year-old form in Saturday’s Group 1 Turnbull Stakes at Caulfield. Picture: Bradley Photos

Rogerson said the extra time helped the now five-year-old regain his zest for trackwork and racing that helped him to Group 1 wins on both sides of the Tasman Sea as a three-year-old.

“He came back into work in April and just started a long, slow, easy preparation and I could see had the spark back in his eyes, determination, and he wanted to be there again,” she said.

“I knew he was back on track.”

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Sharp ‘N’ Smart had two runs in New Zealand to prepare for his crack at the Turnbull Stakes, which Rogerson said left the son of Redwood in prime condition for his first Melbourne race since his second to Manzoice in the 2022 Victoria Derby.

The gelding arrived in Melbourne on Wednesday, thrilling Rogerson with his condition after his flight and float trip to Flemington.

“He got off bright and very bouncy and he just had an easy day yesterday,” she said.

“He looks super so I think he’s travelled over really well.”

The Turnbull Stakes will provide the Rogerson camp with the information required to plot the rest of Smart ‘N’ Sharp’s spring.

Sharp ‘N’ Smart won the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes and New Zealand Derby as a three-year-old. Picture: Grant Guy

Finishing in the first three would earn the Spring Champion Stakes and New Zealand Derby winner a place in the Caulfield Cup field.

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“We’re going to assess after Saturday and what direction we go after Saturday’s run,” Rogerson said.

“He’s not qualified for the Caulfield Cup but if he happened to run in the first three, we’ve got the Caulfield Cup option.

“He is nominated for the Cox Plate and we’ve got other races leading into the Melbourne Cup

“He’s looking for the 2000m now so I’m very excited to see how he measures up against these good horses on Saturday.”

Ladbrokes rated Sharp ‘N’ Sharp, who will have the services of jockey Luke Currie, as a $31 chance in Turnbull Stakes betting.

“Everyone has got their own opinions so what will be will be but we’re very happy with the horse,” Rogerson said.

“We’re very confident he’ll run a super race on Saturday.”

Originally published as Comeback galloper Sharp ‘N’ Smart out to set up Caulfield Cup start in Turnbull Stakes