Promising jumper Saddle the Stars earned a start in next Thursday’s $300,000 Warrnambool Grand Annual with his second placing in an open steeplechase at Pakenham last Sunday.
Saddle the Stars finished 2½ lengths behind New Zealand jumper Lucky Tonight in Sunday’s race but was more than six lengths in front of third placegetter King of the Forest in the 3200 metre race.
Trainer Chris Ryan said he was excited at the prospect the nine-year-old would run in the iconic race of his home-town three-day carnival.
“It was his first steeplechase start on Sunday and he didn’t let us down,” Ryan said. 
“He’s run well at his three hurdle starts but I always knew he’d make a better ‘chaser. He stays all day and likes it wet so that’s two attributes you need to run in an Annual. 
“He’s been in work for more than six months, with the Annual as our goal. His second placing on Sunday meant he met the ballot conditions for the race.”
Irish-born Warrnambool jumps jockey Shane Jackson, who rode Saddle the Stars on Sunday, has been offered the ride in the Grand Annual but is also considering the ride on another local chaser, Deliberate.
Saddle the Stars, a $60,000 purchase at the Inglis 2009 yearling sales took his jumps earnings past $18,000 with Sunday’s placing.
Overall he’s earned $86,379 from 43 starts.
Terang jumps on trial
Jumps trials will be held at Terang late in May as the racing club seeks approval to reinstate jumps racing at the track. 
The club, which has not staged jumps races for eight years, hopes to run a hurdle and a steeplechase at its cup meeting next April.
Shades unleash Leish
The introduction of blinkers helped the Mitch Freedman-trained Leishman win his maiden at Hamilton last Friday. 
Leishman ($19) defeated Supreme Harmony and Original Artist in the 1400-metre race.
Freedman, who trains at Crossley, west of Warrnambool, said Leishman was a fit horse who showed a liking for wet tracks.
“I’ve got to give credit to Leishman’s owners,” he said. “They’ve been very patient. 
“I was really happy how Leishman went to the line.”
From his four starts Leishman has earned $14,875.
Rising is resting
Camperdown filly Aurora Rising is heading to the spelling paddock following her maiden victory over 1400 metres at Terang last Sunday.
Veteran trainer Geoff Daffy said Aurora Rising had kept improving since the first of her four starts.
“She deserves a break,” Daffy said. “It was a good win on a very heavy track. 
“She’s just kept on improving. We think she’ll come back into work a stronger filly once she has a break. There’s plenty of upside to her.”
Aurora Rising started a $4.20 chance on the back of a Sportsbet-Ballarat placing in March.
Daffy was one of several Western District trainers to purchase yearlings at the VOBIS Gold yearling sale in Melbourne last Sunday. 
He paid $36,000 for a colt by Lucas Cranach, while Symon Wilde parted with $26,000 for a filly by Glass Harmonium and $18,000 for a filly by Skilled.