Great interest in Grand National

Press, 5 August 1988, Page 24

Great interest in Grand National

The tremendous interest shown by North Island stables in this year’s three-day Grand National carnival should ensure racing of outstanding quality. The first day of the carnival is tomorrow with the second day on Wednesday and the final day next Saturday.

Tomorrow’s events are an excellent forerunner to

the bigger races later in the carnival.

Two jumping races, the Koral Steeplechase and the Sydenham Brush Hurdles dominate the day.

In the Brush Hurdles the reappearance of Crown Star will be an obvious highlight. The outstanding horse over country in New Zealand over the last couple of years, he has not recaptured fully that golden form this winter, but such is the skill of his trainer, Ken Browne, that it would be a major surprise if the brown and red colours of Crown Star are not to the fore once again. Horses like Chimeric, Sonic Sound and Therapeutic from the North Island and Go Johnny from the South will en-

sure an interesting encounter.

The appearance of these three North Island horses brings back to Riccarton three of New Zealand’s best known trainers in Eric Ropiha, Evan Rayher and Gavin Mudgeway.

Much of the southern interest for this race and the Lion Brown Grand National Steeplechase has been lost due to the withdrawl of two leading contenders, Bijoumai and Ocean Guard. The Sydenham Hurdles is again dominated by North Islanders with Won’t Be Easy, Aughabehy, Tu Tanga Ta, Palm Singer and Maluta. Pat Corboy, from Washdyke, has a strong runner in this with Don Pedro,

while Charlie Trelay also has excellent form background. Lord Venture will cap off his Grand National preparation with a start on the flat in the Heathcote Handicap, while the librses finishing first and second in the International Trucks Winter Cup 12 months ago, Fairfield Lad and Tilbury Docks, will also be starting.

The 1400 m Paparua ‘Handicap will also be used by many runners as a lead-up to the Winter Cup including Beach Tango, Go Bush, Miss Woodleigh, New Wine, Spanish Star, Tai Yang, Kiss Me Kate, Berber and Black. Arrow.

The second day of the meeting is dominated by the $35,000 Couplands

Grand National Hurdles over 4200 m where many of the runners from the Sydenham Hurdles on the first day will be joined by Farthing, a Rotorua Cup winner in Beaver Boy, Thorley and Ocean Guard from Ted Winslow’s stable.

The Paritai Handicap, named after a new stud recently established north of Christchurch, is the. major staying event on the card with a purse of $20,000 for the 2000 m event.

The Grand National and Winter Handicap dominate the last day and form shown tomorrow and Wednesday will give the best indications of who will be the fancied runners on the final day.