Sharp 'N'Smart - you beauty! The 2025 Waikato Cup!

[Chief Stipe]

Well stick that up all the doubters on the other channels!!!

The number of armchair trainers that wrote him off even though the issues were well known.

Brilliant win!!  Class is permanent!!

[Huey]

59kg also ... very impressive 

[Chief Stipe]

1 hour ago, Huey said:

59kg also ... very impressive 

Yep he dug really deep when they came at him.  Great to see him back in that form.  I liked the way Rooke put him into the race early and put the pressure on those behind.  Won him the race.  

Bit of a fast lane on the inside too.

[Chief Stipe]

Sharp ‘N’ Smart takes Waikato Cup in thrilling finish

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Kevin Robertson, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

13 December 2025

Former Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) winner Sharp ‘N’ Smart returned to the scene of that 2023 triumph to take out the Gr.3 SkyCity Hamilton Waikato Cup (2400m) in a thrilling three-way finish to the Te Rapa staying feature.

A triple Group One winner as a three-year-old, the Team Rogerson-prepared son of Redwood hadn’t been seen in the winners’ enclosure since his Derby triumph as the now six-year-old took on the best Australasia had to offer on both sides of the Tasman while also suffering through some injury and illness issues.

A return to form in his current campaign was evident with placings in two of his three most recent starts including finishing third in the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) before being less than a length from winner Final Return when finishing fourth in the Gr.3 Counties Cup (2100m).

While punters respected his chances on Saturday the 59kg topweight did put a few people off, but it didn’t bother Sharp ‘N’ Smart who settled one off the fence behind pacemaker Sagunto and travelled easily throughout for rider George Rooke.

Rooke began to get busy approaching the home bend as The Odyssey swept into contention and the pair went to war shortly after turning for home.

Just as it looked to be a two-horse war, race favourite Gigi joined in at the 150m and the trio slugged it out to the finish with Sharp ‘N’ Smart putting his head down to edge Gigi with The Odyssey just a head away in third.

Co-trainer Debbie Rogerson cut an emotional figure as she waited for her charge to return to the birdcage.

“I’m so proud of this horse and the team behind this horse as it has been a great journey,” Rogerson said.

“I set him for this race in my home town as we just wanted to win it.

“It was a good run and he was tough, a credit to the horse.

“Everyone has been knocking the horse but they don’t know what has been wrong with him. He had an horrific bacterial virus and it took him twelve months to get over it.

“We gave him a good spell and we knew this time in he was getting back to his best, so it might be back to the Melbourne Cup next year.

“We might look at the Queen Eliabeth (Gr.3, 2400m) next and then the Auckland Cup (Gr.2, 3200m).”

Rooke was also thrilled with how well his mount fought right to the line.

“I knew we had to be more positive today and it has taken me three or four times to get it right with him,” he said.

“He just hit that flat spot about half a mile out and I thought I’d rather commit too soon than not soon enough and he has just out-battled them to be honest.

“When The Odyssey came alongside I was a bit worried but when I fought him off I thought it was going to take a good one to get past him.

“Then I saw Gigi and thought oh no, but he stuck his head down and got it done.”

Bred by Gerry Harvey, Sharp ‘N’ Smart is out of a half-sister to Absalon, who won five races including two Listed victories in Brisbane.

He was a $55,000 purchase from Westbury Stud’s draft in Book 2 at Karaka 2021, then was passed in for $90,000 at the Ready to Run Sale later that year.

He has now won in excess of $3.44 million in prizemoney from his seven career victories.

 

[hesi]

1 hour ago, Chief Stipe said:

Yep he dug really deep when they came at him.  Great to see him back in that form.  I liked the way Rooke put him into the race early and put the pressure on those behind.  Won him the race.  

Bit of a fast lane on the inside too.

6 winners on the inside the other 3 winners 3 out. almost 4 with Gigi

[Chief Stipe]

21 minutes ago, hesi said:

6 winners on the inside the other 3 winners 3 out. almost 4 with Gigi

So you agree on pace and on the inside or as Innes said up and in.  

[Chief Stipe]

Will be interesting to see what the last 600m sectional was.  The time would hold up well in OZ.

[Thomass]

Why on earth did you delete my post about this horse's cheating jockey?

Without cheating WOULDN'T have won