Sweeney Todd for Grand National

Press, 7 June 1983, Page 32

Sweeney Todd for Grand National

Special correspondent Dunedin Sweeney Todd, an easy winner of yesterday’s Otago Steeplechase at the Otago Racing Club’s meeting, has been set for the Grand National Steeplechase at Riccarton in August. Plans to race Sweeney Todd at Trentham next month have been scrapped. “He has had a couple of trips to Trentham and done no good, so we have decided to give it a miss and concentrate on the Grand National which his owners are keen to win,” said Pat Corboy, his Washdyke trainer.

“He is a good jumper and a terrific stayer so he has everything going for him,” said Corboy, who won the 1954 Grand National Steeplechase with Young Prince.

Corboy, who won the Otago Steeplechase as a jockey on Colonel and Desert Trek said Sweeney Todd will have his lead-up races to the National in the

Timaru Steeplechase on July 8, the Homeby Steeplechase at the end of July and possibly a race on the first day of the National meeting. Sweeney Todd is now. unbeaten in three starts over country and he was much more relaxed and confident in his jumping yesterday than at his previous start, the Otago Hunt Centennial Cup which he also won easily. This was confirmed by Harold Pateman, aged 30, who has partnered him in his three steeplechase wins. “He was just on the bit nicely and fenced better than ever. He only started pulling when the others started to stop,” said Pateman.

Sweeney Todd, an eight-year-old by Country Dance from Queenscliff, settled at the tail of the field, about 10 lengths from the lead. He moved up to third behind Master Bijou and Bold Star at the 1400 m and went to the front at the fence by the

800 m. He steadily increased his advantage and won by 13 lengths. Taitan, which led the chase after Sweeney Todd from the 800 m was a clear second. About the same time, Taitan’s stablemate, Lord Hymac was winning the Wanganui Steeplechase for the Fairview trainer, Graeme Jackson.

Corboy and Pateman also teamed up to win the other jumping race on the programme, the Otago Hurdles with Final Surge. Final Surge, which also won on the first day, came on well from three back on the inside to win by three lengths. The Resurgent — Never Again gelding looks capable of developing useful form for his South Canterbury owners, Peter South and Kenneth Graham. Pateman, the Timaru jockey, has won seven jumping races this winter — three on Sweeney todd, two on Final Surge and one each on Royal Kassel and Mining Law.