Sharp Edge (horse)

Sharp Edge began his racing career in the Kennett Maiden Stakes over six furlongs at Newbury Racecourse in July and won by one and a half lengths from the Bernard van Cutsem-trained favourite Noble Decree. On his next appearance, the colt won the Home Ales Stakes over the same distance at Nottingham Racecourse but was not particularly impressive as he had to be driven out to prevail by half a length from Prince Gourmet. In the New Ham Stakes at Goodwood Racecourse Sharp Edge won again, beating the Windsor Castle Stakes winner Adams Pet by a length. On his final appearance of the season, Sharp Edge was moved up in class and distance for the Royal Lodge Stakes over one mile at Ascot Racecourse. In a rough and unsatisfactory race, he was repeatedly blocked as he attempted to obtain a clear run before finishing strongly to take third place behind Adios and Noble Decree. The form of the race was subsequently boosted when Noble Decree won the Observer Gold Cup and in the winter of 1972/1973 British bookmakers made Sharp Edge the 8/1 second favourite for the 2000 Guineas.[2]

On his first appearance as a three-year-old contested the Craven Stakes (a major trial for the 2000 Guineas) on firm going at Newmarket Racecourse in April and finished fifth behind My Drifter. He sustained a shoulder injury in the race and was never again asked to run on firm ground. His participation in the 2000 Guineas on 5 May was in doubt until overnight rain softened the track but he produced a very good effort to finish third of the eighteen runners behind Mon Fils and Noble Decree with Thatch in fourth place. In the Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh two weeks later Sharp Edge was ridden by Joe Mercer, and started 5/2 joint-favourite alongside Dapper, the Vincent O'Brien-trained winner of both the Tetrarch Stakes and the Gladness Stakes. The other runners included Pitskelly (Tote Free Handicap), Tudenham (Middle Park Stakes), Midsummer Star (2000 Guineas Trial Stakes), Hail the Pirates and Conor Pass. After being restrained towards the rear of the sixteen-runner field, he made rapid progress in the straight, took the lead approaching the final furlong and won by three lengths from Midsummer Star with similar gaps back to Dapper and Klairvimy in third and fourth.[5]

On 3 June, Sharp Edge was sent to France for the Prix Jean Prat over 1800 metres at Chantilly Racecourse and started 3.2/1 third choice behind Verkade (Prix La Force) and Rose Laurel (Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte, Prix Daru). With Mercer again in the saddle, He won easily from the outsiders Black Melody and Some Crack. Although the racecourse judge reported the winning margin as three lengths, photographs of the finish indicated that Sharp Edge won by at least five lengths.[5] The colt bypassed the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot and was then matched against older horses for the first time. He started favourite but was unable to recover after being badly hampered by Moulton in the straight and faded to finish sixth behind Scottish Rifle.

Sharp Edge was off the course for well over three months before returning for the Champion Stakes over ten furlongs at Newmarket in October. He proved the best of the male runners as he finished third behind Hurry Harriet and Allez France and ahead of Scottish Rifle, Moulton and Mysterious.[5][6]