Smart three-year-old Sharp ‘N' Smart is out of Saturday's Group 2 Wellington Guineas (1400m) at Trentham with a stone bruise.
“I couldn't have been happier with his gallop yesterday morning, but before the truck left this morning he had a bit of heat in one foot,” said Graeme Rogerson, who trains in partnership with his wife Debbie.
“Within three hours he was certainly a lot better, and he should be perfect within 48 hours.
“It was a 50/50 call, but I thought it was in the best interests of the horse not to run.”
In lieu of Saturday's assignment, Sharp ‘N' Smart will head to Trentham in a fortnight to contest the Group 1 Harcourts Mile (1600m), where he will come up against a handy line-up.
“He is going to run in the Thorndon in two weeks and he may trial on Tuesday,” Rogerson said.
“He will make the Thorndon interesting. It is set weights and penalties, so they will have to give him a bit of weight.
“It will be a good race because you have got La Crique and a few others, but I think he has the makings of a good horse.”
The son of Redwood has already made an impression on the track, winning the Group 3 Gloaming Stakes (1600m) and Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m), before finishing runner-up to Manzoice in the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) in October.
He is set to have five starts this preparation, all at elite-level, and Rogerson has even loftier ambitions with the gelding in spring.
“He will have three runs in New Zealand – the Thorndon Mile, Herbie Dyke (Group 1, 2000m), and the Derby (Group 1, 2400m). He will then go to Australia where he will run in the AJC Derby (Group 1, 2400m). He will probably have five races in the autumn.
“Then we will get him ready for the spring and the Cups. We would like to take him to Hong Kong for the Vase (Group 1, 2400m), but we will just see what transpires.”
Bred by Gerry Harvey, Sharp ‘N' Smart was purchased out of Westbury Stud's draft at New Zealand Bloodstock's National Yearling Sale draft by Rogerson for $55,000.
He was reoffered by Dormello Stud at the Ready to Run Sale where he failed to meet his $90,000 reserve and is raced by a syndicate that includes Rogerson and his good friend Harvey.