Just As Sharp (NZ) Puts Rogersons Back in 3YO Spotlight

Team Rogerson had one of last season’s standout three-year-olds with Sharp ‘N’ Smart (NZ) (Redwood), who they bought from the draft of breeder Westbury Stud at Karaka. That same formula has now produced an emerging star of the 2023-24 crop.

Rogerson Bloodstock paid $145,000 to buy Just As Smart (NZ) (Swiss Ace) from Westbury’s Book 1 draft at Karaka 2022. A powerful come-from-behind win in Saturday’s $80,000 Listed Trevor & Corallie Eagle Memorial (1500m) at Te Rapa was the third win of a four-start career for the classy gelding, who has so far banked $82,510 in stakes.

Just As Smart is raced by Graeme Rogerson, Gerry Harvey, Craig Leishman and Merv and Meg Butterworth, who all also share in the ownership of Sharp ‘N’ Smart.

A stylish winner of a special-conditions maiden against older horses on debut in late July, Just As Smart later ran third at Ruakaka behind the undefeated subsequent Group One winner Crocetti (NZ) (Zacinto). The Rogersons gelded him and gave him a brief freshen-up, and he returned to action with a three-length victory at Rotorua on November 21.

Just As Smart had his first taste of black-type competition on Saturday and showed that he well and truly belongs at that level.

Ridden by Graeme Rogerson’s granddaughter Bailey, Just As Smart slipped at the start and settled at the tail of the small but talented field. But Just As Smart came to the outside at the top of the straight, got balanced up and changed gears. He blasted past his six rivals and went clear, winning by three-quarters of a length and making a bold statement for some of the major three-year-old races coming up through the remainder of the season.

“The plan was to head forward but he lost his footing coming out of the gates, so that went out the window,” said Bailey Rogerson, who picked up the first black-type win of her riding career. “He settled nicely and when I let him rip on the corner, he really found the line.

“His breeding suggests he shouldn’t go much further, but I think he will. He is very promising. Being such a big race, this is very special and it’s good to get one for Granddad.”

Graeme Rogerson believes Just As Sharp could be a live chance to follow Sharp ‘N’ Smart’s footsteps to victory in the Group One New Zealand Derby (2400m) in March.

 “I was disappointed the day he got beaten, but it was Crocetti who beat him,” Rogerson said. “We had him gelded after that. I think, with any luck, he can be a Derby horse.

“He will go to the Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) next, and then we will look at the Derby. I think there is a hell of a lot of improvement still in him.”

Vendor	Westbury Stud
Purchaser	Rogerson Bloodstock (Waikato)
Breeding	Swiss Ace – Readyor
Racing	Lot 519, Karaka 2022 Book 1, $145,000
Bred by	G Harvey