Melbourne Cup jockey quandary for Sharp ‘N’ Smart

[Wandering Eyes]

Melbourne Cup hopeful Sharp ‘N’ Smart has been allocated 53.5kg for the great race. Photo: Trish Dunell

In light of the recent release of the weights for the prestigious Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m), trainers Graeme and Debbie Rogerson may need to search for a new jockey for their horse, Sharp ‘N’ Smart.

Racing Victoria’s Head of Handicapping, David Hegan, has assigned the Kiwi horse a weight of 53.5kg for the first Tuesday in November, casting doubts on jockey Hugh Bowman’s ability to make the weight.

“I think he is well-weighted. He is certainly up there with the top three-year-olds (of last season). I am not sure whether Hughy can make the weight, he was hoping that he would get 54.5kg,” Graeme Rogerson expressed his opinion on the matter.

“At this stage, it is Hugh’s ride, and we will see where we head. But I am very happy with the horse. If he is fit on the day and everything goes right, he is in with a really good chance.”

Sharp ‘N’ Smart has previously carried 53.5kg in the Group 1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham in January, finishing as the runner-up with jockey Ryan Elliot in the saddle.

In other weight allocations, defending Melbourne Cup champion Gold Trip has been assigned 58.5kg, 1kg more than the previous year, while the current race favorite, Vauban, is set to carry 55kg.

Among the Kiwi contingent, Dark Destroyer, trained by Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott, has been allocated 51.5kg, while Ladies Man (trained by Allan Sharrock), Full Of Sincerity (trained by Andrew Forsman), and Ess Vee Are (trained by Darryn and Briar Weatherley) have all received 50kg.

While discussions about Sharp ‘N’ Smart’s Melbourne Cup campaign continue in the Rogerson camp, the team has been pleased with the horse’s progress following a ninth-place finish in the Group 1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m).

Graeme Rogerson expects significant improvement as the horse competes over longer distances.

“We fired him up and he raced on the speed. He is a staying horse, and we tried to make him into a sprinter, which didn’t work,” Rogerson explained.

“You can’t blame (Michael) McNab (jockey); I told him to ride him up there. I thought he would sprint better fresh than he did. He went a handy race considering where he was in the running.”

Rogerson further outlined Sharp ‘N’ Smart’s upcoming plans, including the Group 1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) at Hastings and the Group 1 Livamol Classic (2040m) before the horse’s journey to Australia.

“We are going to let him find his feet (in the mile),” Rogerson said.

“The race that he looks like he can win is the Livamol. We will just play that by ear and then head to Australia with him.”

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