Lady Edwina could do her sex proud today

Press, 13 August 1983, Page 24

Lady Edwina could do her sex proud today

By

J. J. BOYLE

Dan O’Brien, the man who launched Carbine on the road to fame, rode a mare Medora to win the first New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase 108 years ago.

Aurora Borealis was the conquering hero 53 years ago, but the National has been a race for the boyos ever since.

Mr Bill Cole, the Te Kauwhata owner-trainer of Lady Edwina, is receptive to any suggestion that it is time for a change this year. His seven-year-old daughter of War Hawk II is the only female in the field, but weight of numbers does not count for much in a contest that makes demands on individual prowess. Bill Cole believes his “Lady” has the skills and fitness to tilt bravely for today’s major prize. To the question who he thought would be hardest for the mare to beat, Bill

Cole answered with another question: “How good is Kirra Son?”

It has not been all plain sailing in the Kirra Son camp in the Grand National countdown. The Takanini-trained seven-year-old has been in some bother with some swelling in his wither. “But apart from the wither trouble he has done okay,” Kirra Son’s trainer, Colin Jillings, said yesterday. Nothing has happened in the final countdown to weaken Grey Warbler’s position as likely favourite. Last year’s Grand National winner did striding work at his useful efficient work rate yesterday. To a light-hearted sugges-

tion from Leo Robinson that he should pop Grey Warbler over fences, Kevin Burnett, the Riccarton apprentice, and the grey’s regular rider in training this week, said he was keen enough, but would prefer to dodge Cutts’s. Sweeney Todd, from Washdyke, and Royal Kassel, from Oamaru, might be the strongest chances of the South Island runners in today’s National. The Riverton trainer, Bill Hillis, will put both Off An’ On and Paulmont into a race with which he had a brilliant association during his term as private trainer to the late Mr Bill Hazlett. “The North Island might be too strong for us this year,” Hillis said yesterday.

Hillis is satisfied with the fitness of Off An’ On, but said Paulmont was not as bright as he could be.

At 12 years, Off An’ On will be the veteran of the National field, but he has been acting young in the last fortnight, and goes into today’s race after seconds in the Homeby and Koraal Steeplechases. Off An’ On was third behind Charlestown and Taitan in the 1981 Grand National and third again last year, so a win for the Southland chestnut today would be a reward for perseverance, and by no means an outlandish surprise in one of the strongest National fields in the last 20 years.