Crown Star to capitalise on handy National weight

Press, 9 August 1985, Page 21

Crown Star to capitalise on handy National weight

By

J. J. BOYLE

Crown Star has the bright emerging talent of a jumper well capable of bringing off a lightweight’s victory in the Grand National Steeplechase tomorrow.

Last year this product of New Zealand’s most famous jumping stable won the Grand National Hurdles for Ken and Ann Browne. This year he has made the switch to 'chasing with impressive efficiency, and tailored his skills neatly to his first try over Riccarton country for victory in the Koral Steeplechase last Saturday. Ken Browne has aimed for the big one tomorrow with hopes of getting better footing than Riccarton could offer for the Koral. In Crown Star he has a comparatively young horse with a good turn of foot to match

his fluency as a jumper.

Such a desirable combination, when allied as well with a position down in the handicap, will almost certainly pose problems for those up in the weights. Crown Star is 7.5 kg below Bymai and 6.5 kg below Sweeney Tood, South Islandowned and trained hopefuls which were not in the lineup against him in the Koral but were two of the principals in the finish of the Christchurch Hunt’s Homeby Steeplechase a week earlier.

Sweeney Todd beat Bymai by a length in the Homeby. Battle On lending

quality to the finish by battling into third only half a head back. Battle On came up with another third in the Koral, but this time he was eight lengths from the winner Crown Star, and seven lengths behind Sweeney Todd’s stablemate, Alaska Lad. The fact that Battle On got right into contention in the Homeby finish but was a fairly distant third in the Koral might perhaps suggest he will find Crown Star harder to beat then either Bymai or Sweeney Todd. But that would have no regard for differences in

track conditions and the improvement their Homeby runs effected in the fitness of both Bymai and Sweeney Todd. Battle On will meet Crown Star on level terms tomorrow, and might be something better than a second string for the Waikato.His owner-trainer, Mr Jock Singers, has quiet confidence in his chestnut’s stamina to meet the demands of the 5600 m and will be disappointed if that, allied with dependable jumping, does not count for much in the final pinch. Region did not show enough in the Koral to keep

him on the fancied list, and Stephen Jenkins, who rode him in that race, obviously did not hope for marked improvement from the Taranaki grey when deciding to switch'to Alaska Lad for the National.

Jenkins has already won a Nationals doubles in one year, on Royal Kassel and Sevastiano, and if Alaska Lad can continue his efficient work rate over a longer trip than he has attempted so far Gun for Fun’s efficient partner in Wednesday’s thrilling National Hurdles might write another brilliant chapter into the records.