Crown Star—‘problem’ for C.J.C. handicapper

Press, 29 July 1987, Page 48

Crown Star —‘problem’ for C.J.C. handicapper

Crown Star has been given 67.5 kg for the Lion Brown Grand National Steeplechase next week. The Canterbury Jockey Club’s handicapper, Mr Rex Johnston, said yesterday no previous Grand National, since his professional association with the race started in 1975, had given him more to think about.

"And, of course, Crown Star has been the problem horse," Mr Johnston said. Mr Johnston said Crown Star had won his second Grand National last year with 63.5 kg, and was weighted for that race before winning a penaltyfree Koral on the first day of the Canterbury Jockey Club’s meeting. Crown Star had won three more races this year, so he had five successes to consider since he weighted the Waikato star for last year’s National, Mr Johnston said yesterday. The most recent of •those wins was in the Aber Impco Waikato Steeplechase. Crown Star won it by five lengths under 66.5 kg, one kilo less

than his Grand National weight. The Wellington Racing Club’s handicapper, Mr Neil Bluett, gave Crown Star 68kg for the Steel and Tube Wellington Steeplechase last month, but Ken Browne found that unacceptable. Storm, winner of the big Trentham race with 58.5 kg, has been given 61kg in the National. He is one kilo above the 1984 Grand National winner Bymai, which has been runner-up to Crown Star in the last two Grand Nationals, but has not won a race since he carried off the Timaru Steeplechase in July, 1985. Bymai will meet Crown Star 6kg better than he did in last year’s National —• no surprise adjustmen considering the long gar to his most recent win and the fact that he will go into this year’s race as a 13-year-old.

Crown Star has been given 68kg in the Koral Steeplechase on the first day of the Grand National meeting on Saturday. He has already won two Korals, last year’s with 66kg

when the minimum was 59kg or 2kg higher than this year’s.

Gatcombe’s Pride heads the weights for the $50,000 AIC International Trucks Winter Cup, the most valuable flat race at the Grand National meeting. He has 57kg and is one kilo above Bronze Valley, the runner-up in the race in 1964 and again in 1965.

The South Canterbury speedster, Jonny Alone, gets top rating of the South Islanders with 55.5 kg. Weights for the two Grand Nationals and the Winter Cup are:—

COUPLANDS PIES 88th GRAND NATIONAL HURDLES, $30,000; 4200 m—- . Tui, 62; Crown Star, 61; Walden Pond, 60.5; Candy Case, 60; Insoluble, 59.5; Magic Eagle, 59; Ocean Guard, 58; Dundas, Speak Easy, 57.5; Applicate, Axle, Bencathra, Chimeric, Chukka Khan, Colonel Jones, Justa Kiss, Mystic King, Rocking Chair, Smithy Da, Stormy Knight, Zeb, 57.

LION BROWN NEW ZEALAND GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE, $60,000; 5600 m.— Crown Star, 67.5; Region, 63; Master Bijou,

Storm, 61; Bymai, 60; Alaska Lad, Count Fox, Cozi Kid, 59; Yutani, 58.5; Chimeric, Plummet, Take Guard, 57.5; Ben Kotay, Coharken, Glen Arcs, Mr Big, Siver Bayou, Stiles, Valeri, 57.

AIC INTERNATIONAL TRUCKS WINTER CUP, $50,000; 1600 m.— Gatcombe’s Pride, 57; Bronze Valley, Kerykeion, 56; Jonny Alone, 55.5; Blyme, Courier Flight, 54.5; Barusha, 54; Fairfield Lad, Kallista, 53.5; El Valiente, 53; Catential, Jimmy Te Cobai, 52; Another Phenomenon, Don Bruce, 51.5; Black Arrow, Familiion, McAdam, No Techie, Rongonui, The Mean Machine, Tilbury Docks, 51; Kiss Me Kate, Red Sovereign, 50.5; Great. Zeal, Rakau Tiffany, 50.