Former New Zealand Horse of the Year Sharp ‘N’ Smart has been retired, and in a full-circle moment has returned to breeder Gerry Harvey’s Auckland farm, Westbury Stud.

“I think we have done the right thing by the horse,” said co-trainer and co-owner Graeme Rogerson. “We put the horse first and he has done a good job for us.”

Rogerson purchased the son of Redwood out of Westbury Stud’s 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 2 Yearling Sale draft for $55,000, and while he failed to reach his $90,000 reserve at the Ready to Run Sale later that year, it proved to be a blessing in disguise for Rogerson.

“I thought he was a good staying type and then we put him in the Ready to Run Sale,” Rogerson said. “After talking with Gerry, we decided to keep him. Gerry and I kept a quarter each and we syndicated the balance of him.”

Sharp ‘N’ Smart displayed plenty of precocity, winning the Listed Champagne Stakes (1600m) at his second start as a juvenile before crossing the Tasman where he was runner-up in the Listed Phoenix Stakes (1500m).

While he showed plenty of talent as a two-year-old, it was as a three-year-old that he left his mark, winning five of his eight starts, including the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m), Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m), Gr.1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m), and Gr.3 Gloaming Stakes (1600m).

He was also runner-up in the Gr.1 Victoria Derby (2500m) and Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) and was fourth in the Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m), with his deeds earning him the New Zealand Horse of the Year crown.

“He won plenty of Group Ones and he won that $2 million race in Sydney, the Spring Champion Stakes, he won the Derby and Herbie Dyke,” Rogerson said. “He was a good horse.

“With a bit of luck, he would have won the AJC Derby, but they got that rain on the day, and he ran fourth. He was also unlucky in the VRC Derby.”

While he impressed as a three-year-old, Sharp ‘N’ Smart failed to reach the same lofty heights as an older horse, adding just one further win to his record in last year’s Gr.3 Waikato Cup (2400m), while he also placed in the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m), Gr.2 Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m), and Gr.2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m).

He also gave his owners the thrill of competing in the 2024 Melbourne Cup, where he finished 16^th.

Following an extended break after his Waikato Cup victory, Sharp ‘N’ Smart failed to return to the satisfaction of trainers Graeme and Debbie Rogerson and Clinton Isdale, and following two unplaced runs this spring, the decision was made to bring the curtain down on his decorated career.

“Deb wasn’t happy with him, and she thought he didn’t want to be here, so she spoke with all the owners and they all agreed,” Rogerson said. “He has done us proud, he has won $3.5 million.

“He went to Westbury in Auckland today where he will hopefully look after a few of the young horses.

“He was a real racehorse. He had a lot of quirks, but he is a lovely horse.”