Saddle The Stars ready for biggest test in Grand Annual Steeplechase

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Renew leaves the field behind1:25

Horse Racing: The Darren Weir-trained Renew took centre stage at Warrnambool when he blew away his rivals in the $125,000 Galleywood Hurdle. Renew vindicated his firm favouritism race with an impressive staying and jumping performance in the 3200m race.

• May 3rd 2017
• 21 hours ago
• /video/video.news.com.au/Sport/Horse Racing/

Warrnambool racing carnival — Galleywood Day, Race 1- (L) John Allen onboard Waxing clears the jump with (r) Shane Jackson onboard Saddle The Stars, Waxing went onto win. 4th May 2016. Picture: Colleen Petch.

WARRNAMBOOL hobby trainer Chris Ryan has wanted to run Saddle The Stars in the Grand Annual Steeplechase for a while, and Thursday he will achieve his aim.

“I’ve had him earmarked for this for the last two years,’’ Ryan said. “He’s had his issues, but I’ve been able to put six months of work into him this time and he’s ready for it.”

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Ryan, who runs a property valuing business, trains only a couple of horses and Saddle The Stars will be his first Annual runner. He said Saddle The Stars wasn’t just making up the numbers on Thursday.

“He’s a very good, clever jumper and he’ll be suited by the intricacies of this course, which he knows well,’’ Ryan said. “He’ll run the distance, but whether he’s good enough, that’s the question.”

Saddle The Stars, a nine-year-old gelding, has had four jumps starts for three seconds, including last start on his steeplechase debut at Pakenham behind Annual rival Lucky Tonight.

“I think that’s good form as Lucky Tonight should be hard to beat,” Ryan said.

Saddle The Stars, right, will chase his biggest win in the Grand Annual Steeplechase on Thursday. Picture: Colleen PetchSource:News Corp Australia

Ryan purchased Saddle The Stars as a yearling for $60,000.

As a three-year-old, Saddle The Stars finished third in the Geelong Classic but was balloted out of the Victoria Derby, a race in which Ryan was confident he would run well.

Ryan said since then Saddle The Stars had struggled with his breathing as he was an asthmatic.

Ryan recently relocated to a property at Tower Hill and said he could train Saddle The Stars from the paddock, which had made all the difference.

“When he was in the stables he would breathe the dust in, but he’s a different horse now he’s in the paddock the whole time,” he said.

Saddle The Stars will carry the Ryan family colours also worn by 1970s cult galloper Gala Red, who was trained by his father Bernard, a part-owner of Saddle The Stars.

Gala Red finished second to Leilani in the 1974 Queen’s Cup at Flemington and was placed in the West Australian Derby and Queensland Derby.

MICHAEL MANLEY’S FEATURE TIPS

GRAND ANNUAL STEEPLECHASE (5500m)

RACE 7 (2.35pm)

Steve Pateman opted to ride I’LL’AVA’ALF (3) in a tough decision over last year’s winner NO SONG NO SUPPER (2) before I’ll’ava’alf won on the flat impressively on Tuesday. That would have boosted his confidence further. I’ll’ava’alf loves the wet and if he’s ever going to run the distance it should be today. Patrick Payne, aiming for his fourth win in the race since 2012, has strong chances in No Song No Supper and SLOWPOKE RODRIGUEZ (8), whom he set for this race two years ago. Kiwi LUCKY TONIGHT (4) outstayed his rivals to win at Pakenham last start. Last August he finished second in the Grand National Steeplechase to Wells.

THE TIPS

1. I’LL’AVA’ALF

2. Slowpoke Rodriguez

3. Lucky Tonight

4. No Song No Supper

WARRNAMBOOL CUP (2350m)

RACE 8 (3.15pm)

The three imports at the top of the weights look the hardest to beat. Darren Weir will have targeted this race for HIGH CHURCH (3), who sat wide and ran on well when fourth last start in the Easter Cup. The step up to 2350m will suit, he handles wet tracks and Damian Lane goes on. OBSERVATIONAL (1) made it two wins on end when he won the Easter Cup, charging home as he had done in the Golden Mile at Bendigo. GREY LION (2) over-raced in the Easter Cup and was beaten a long way out. He will be better suited on a wet track. UNFURL (12) is racing well but a query on a wet track.

THE TIPS

1. HIGH CHURCH

2. Observational

3. Grey Lion

4. Unfurl

Originally published as Ryan shoots for the stars in Annual grind