I would like to thank everyone who has supported us with Sharp 'n' Smarts career so far
We have received some lovely messages from all over the world and we are so grateful to have the support we do.
He has some great staff looking after him in New Zealand and abroad and we are eternally grateful to everyone who has had a hand in getting him to where he is.
He travelled back to New Zealand over the Easter weekend and settled back into the stable life. He has always been a fantastic traveller and this time around was no exception. He ate up well straight off the plane like he usually does and has continued to do well since. He has been living his best life out in the big paddock at home showing off to all his neighbours and was given a few days to let down before being sent to the spelling paddock. The plan is for him to have a good six-week break while we start to plan his Spring Campaign.
Despite how well he has performed in New Zealand and Australia I still believe we are yet to see him at his best. He has competed in some very nice races against some quality horses and he is mighty unlucky to not have a better record than he does. Although he is competitive in the wet, he is twice the horse on top of the ground and I think his record would be near perfect if he had struck his preferred tracks.
Hugh said after the Australian Derby that he didn’t handle the ground one bit and that his wheels were just spinning, and still his sectionals were outstanding.
I have heard whisperings of him earning Horse of the Year and honestly, I think he deserves the title. He is a fantastic representation of the calibre of horses being bred in New Zealand and I think we can all be very proud of his accomplishments thus far.
His owners and I are very much looking forward to seeing what he can achieve in his next campaign and we hope you are all going to be along for the ride, cheering him home along the way.
Champagne Stakes (Listed) 1st
Phoenix Stakes (Listed) 2nd
JJ Atkins (G1) 4th
Gloaming Stakes (G3) 1st
Champion Stakes (G1) 1st
Victoria Derby (G1) 2nd
Thorndon Mile (G1) 2nd
Herbie Dyke Stakes (G1) 1st
NZ Derby (G1) 1st
Australian Derby (G1) 4th
Photo by Trish Dunell Photography
