Currency will join some of the great names of New Zealand jumps racing if he justifies favouritism to win the $50,000 Grand National Steeplechase at Riccarton Park, Christchurch, tomorrow.
Currency recorded a top dress rehearsal for the Grand National when easily winning the $20,000 Koral Steeplechase (4150m) on the first day of the meeting last Saturday.
Ten horses have completed the Koral-Grand National double in 100 years and they represent some of best steeplechasers in New Zealand's history.
Included among the more recent are Deecee Seven, Crown Star and Koral. Deecee Seven and Crown Star completed the double twice.
Deecee Seven's doubles came in 1997 and 1998. Crown Star won his doubles in 1985 and 1986.
Koral achieved his double in 1965. The race now known as the Koral Steeplechase was originally called the Lincoln Steeples but was re-named upon Koral's retirement. He won the Lincoln four times and the Homeby Steeples, formerly raced the week before the National, an amazing seven times.
Currency is entering the older brigade at age nine but is young in terms of starts as a jumper.
His steeplechasing career only began in June of last year but in that time he has racked up an excellent record of four wins from seven starts in the steeplechasing role. The Markella gelding is also unbeaten from two starts as a hurdler.
He made his rivals looks second rate in the Koral. He cruised up to the lead with about 800m to run and cleared out in the straight to score by 12 lengths.
TAB bookmakers have Currency rated in the same league as Rand was for the Grand National Hurdles on Wednesday. Yesterday afternoon Currency was paying $1.75 on the fixed-odds market.
Rider Rochelle Lockett said the only concern she had was the horse settling kindly during the running. She said he could race a bit keenly but was encouraged by his win in the Koral.
"He was good the other day down here," she said.
Lockett was also impressed by the horse's jumping.
"He jumped them all beautifully."
There are already two scratchings from the Grand National. Manawatu trainer Mark Oulaghan withdrew his only entry Crown Range after he failed to recover from an injury received on the first day.
Waikato trainer Ken Browne scratched Lost In The Flood because of a "suspicious leg".
That leaves Browne with one runner, All Rhythm. He was well beaten by Currency in the Koral (4150m) when finishing sixth but Browne said the Grand National (5600m) is a completely different race.
"They have to go (almost) another round," Browne said.
"He'll go well. It's not what I would call a world-beating national field."
All Rhythm has finished third in both the Waikato and Wellington Steeplechases this year.
One place ahead of All Rhythm in the Koral was Wellington Steeplechase winner Harrison Ford and he could be a slightly better chance of toppling Currency.
He recorded a similar effort in his lead-up race to the Wellington Steeplechase and it would be no surprise to see him make the necessary improvement over the longer distance tomorrow .
- NZPA
Racing: Currency seeks double
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