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Live sport on SN this weekendHamilton trainers chasing polytrack riches
Joshua Smith, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk • August 6th, 2026 11:00 am
Skymax will contest Friday’s $75,000 TAB Polytrack Championship (2000m) at Cambridge | Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)
Skymax and Novak’s winter preparations have been geared towards Friday’s TAB Polytrack Championship (2000m) at Cambridge, and trainers Graeme and Debbie Rogerson, and Clinton Isdale, are hoping the pair can claim the lion’s share of the $75,000 purse on offer.
Skymax has been a standout at the track, winning by eight lengths over 2000m in May before beating Novak by four lengths over the same distance a fortnight later. The daughter of Ferrando was then freshened before resuming at the track late last month where she finished fourth over 2000m.
Isdale said to put a line through that last run and he expects to see plenty of improvement from her tomorrow.
“Her run the other day wasn’t as bad as it looked on paper,” Isdale said. “It was seven weeks between runs, so she was always going to improve going into the final.
“The barrier (15) will make it a bit hard but hopefully the jockey (Matt Cartwright) can overcome that.”
Novak has been a model of consistency, finishing in the money in all but one of his starts over winter, and Isdale is expecting another honest run on Friday.
“He is a bit of an enigma, he is always threatening to win, and he wins when you least expect it, he is honest,” Isdale said.
The stable will line-up a handful of runners on the undercard and Isdale is particularly looking forward to Alezando in the TCL Earthworks 1550 and last start runner-up Melkor in the Saddlery Warehouse 2000.
“Alezando has been knocking on the door,” Isdale said. “I am hoping over 1550m she can get a soft lead and control it.
“Melkor will be hard to beat. His last run was good, he ran second to Ralph Manning’s horse (Above The Clouds) who has won eight races, and he has only won one. He comes back to a weaker grade.”
On Saturday, the stable will be represented by just one runner at Te Rapa - Heza Sharp One in the Wentwood Grange 2100.
“He is coming to the end of his prep but his last run was good, he just got bogged down on the inside of the track,” Isdale said. “He is honest and he has had the best prep of his life so hopefully he can put his hand up one more time for us before he goes to the paddock.”
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Isdale was pleased with La Bella Uno and Irish Rose’s trial wins at Te Rapa over 1100m and 900m respectively.
“La Bella Uno looks like an above average mare,” Isdale said. “She really put her hand up on Tuesday and showed what she has got.
“Irish Rose was running really consistently until her Ellerslie failure, but we have just put it down to her not liking going right-handed. She had a little break and she has come back bigger and stronger and she will improve a lot off the trial.
“They will probably kick-off at Hawera in a fortnight.”
A day later at Te Awamutu, Isdale was buoyed by the jumpouts of three-year-olds Savalambo and Glamorgan, with the pair tipped to have big seasons.
“We had a nice Wootton Bassett three-year-old gelding called Glamorgan and a Savabeel colt called Savalambo who jumped out exceptionally well,” Isdale said. “They look quite exciting.
“They will go to the Te Awamutu trials on the 25th (of August) and then go to Hastings hopefully for the first day of the carnival.
“Glamorgan looks like he can become a Derby horse, he is the real deal and he looks the part. He has been gelded and it has been the making of him.
“Savalambo will probably go to those early three-year-old races and hopefully we can get him down for the Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m) in November.”
Stable stalwart Sharp ‘N’ Smart is making a pleasing return and will likely be targeted toward the Gr.1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) and Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) at Hastings.
“He is coming up very well,” Isdale said. “He will step out at the trials in the next two to three weeks. The staying ranks don’t look too strong here at the moment, so there is an opportunity for a horse to put their hand up with the good prizemoney coming up.
“He will probably go to Hastings, but we will just see how he is after his trial.”
