Sharpen Up was trained throughout his racing career by Bernard van Cutsem at the Stanley House tables in Newmarket.
[5] On his final appearance of the year he contested the Group One Middle Park Stakes over six furlongs at Newmarket Racecourse.
[4] Despite his successes, Sharpen Up was only the third highest rated colt of his generation in van Cutsem's stable, being ranked behind Crowned Prince and High Top in the Free Handicap.
[5] On his three-year-old debut, Sharpen Up ran in the Greenham Stakes over seven furlongs at Newbury Racecourse and finished second to Martinmas.
[4] As a two-year-old, Sharpen Up was given a rating of 127 by the independent Timeform organisation,[7] placing him seven pounds behind the top-rated Deep Diver.