Sweeney Todd will be attraction today

Press, 8 July 1983, Page 18

Sweeney Todd will be attraction today

By .

J. J. BOYLE

Sweeney Todd is the bright emerging talent of the ’chasing scene this winter, and is expected to preserve his unbeaten record over country at the Timaru Racing Club’s meeting today.

He gets his chance in the $7500 Couplands Steeplechase to build on three impressive victories earlier in the winter. His most recent win was in the Otago Steeplechase and it was achieved in the style of a horse capable of developing into the South Island’s brightest hope for

this year’s Grand National Steeplechase. To give the Country Dance gelding every chance on his count down for the big one at Riccarton his connections waved away a start in the $40,000 Steel and Tube Wellington Steeplechase tomorrow. Trentham’s brand of win-

ter going makes peculiar and often exacting demands on even the hardiest, and Sweeney Todd’s cause could be best served by a shorter race on better footing on his home track today, and a winding-up race at Riccarton before the National. The decision to bypass Trentham with Sweeney

Todd has allowed his regular rider, Harold Pateman, to keep a foot in both camps. Pateman will ride Sweeney Todd today, and will then travel to Trentham to ride the Oamaru-trained Royal Kassel in tomorrow’s rich race over the figureeight course.