Kiwi stayers set for Melbourne Cup audition at Moonee Valley

[Wandering Eyes]

Sharp ‘N’ Smart will contest Friday’s Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) at The Valley.
Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

Friday’s Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) is looming as a crucial guide to New Zealand’s chances of Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) success.

The Graeme and Debbie Rogerson-trained Sharp ‘N’ Smart and the Andrew Forsman-trained Positivity both galloped at Tuesday morning’s Breakfast With The Best trackwork session, pleasing their connections ahead of Friday’s $750,000 feature at Moonee Valley.

Debbie Rogerson was happy with Redwood five-year-old gelding Sharp ‘N’ Smart’s work, in which he wasn’t asked for a strong effort under raceday rider Craig Williams.

“He just really had a look around. That was the main thing for him because he’s pretty fit and forward for Friday,” she said.

“Craig said he felt fit and that his action felt fantastic, so we were pleased with that.”

A three-time Group One winner, Sharp ‘N’ Smart pushed Manzoice to half a length when he was second in the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) as a three-year-old, but he had no luck in his second Victorian start when he faded to 13th in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) after a tough run earlier this month.

“We just want him to really hit the line hard on Friday,” Rogerson said.

“He’s very well, a very happy horse. He just wants track conditions to suit so we just hope the weather plays ball.”

Sharp ‘N’ Smart has drawn barrier five for Friday’s contest, two places inside fellow Waikato stayer Positivity.

Forsman was also satisfied with Positivity’s trackwork under rider Tom Prebble.

“She went well. She’s been going great the whole way through,” Forsman said.

“We had to scratch her last week through bruised heels and she’s still not 100 percent on them but they’re getting better with each day. We just want to draw well and for everything to go right so she gets her best chance on Friday.”

While Almanzor four-year-old Positivity currently sits outside the final field of 24 for the Melbourne Cup on November 5, Forsman was optimistic she could secure a start if her form warranted running.

“She’s still a chance. There’s still a few above her in the order that won’t be going so I’d think she’d get close to getting a run if we go down that path,” he said.

“She’d have to run well on Friday, especially how well she’ll be weighted. Provided she gets every chance in the run, if she couldn’t finish top three or four, we wouldn’t be pressing on with a start in the Melbourne Cup.”

With the pending defection of Warmonger, Sharp ‘N’ Smart will rise to 12th on the Melbourne Cup order of entry with the Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray-trained Mahrajaan also assured of a start at 21st on the list, potentially higher if Deny Knowledge tackles the Group 1 Champion Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on November 9 in preference to the Cup.

Positivity sits at 30th on the order, three places ahead of the Grant Cooksley and Bruce Wallace-trained Trust In You, who has finished fourth in the Group 1 Metropolitan Handicap (2400m) and the Group 3 ATC St Leger (2600m) at Randwick in his last two starts.

Cooksley said connections would pay the $A4,000 third declaration fee next Monday for Trust In You and see where the horse was in the order of entry before deciding whether to head down to Melbourne for the Cup without another lead-up run.

Mahrajaan is set to tackle the Group 3 Bendigo Cup (2400m) on Wednesday week after an insect bite ruled out a start in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup.

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