VICTORIAN Premier and Racing Minister Denis Napthine declared jumps racing had received a massive boost after champion trainer Gai Waterhouse's first jumper Valediction won the maiden hurdle at Warrnambool last Thursday.
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Dr Napthine said quality horses and top trainers were now prepared to train jumping horses.
"I'm confident Gai will give jumps racing a real shot in the arm," Dr Napthine said. "It's wonderful to see world--class trainers like Gai and Peter Moody having their horses fight out the finish in a maiden hurdle at Warrnnambool. It all bodes well for an exciting jumps season."
Australian Jumps Racing Association (AJRA) president Marg Lucas was trackside to watch Valediction win the 3226-metre hurdle .
"Gai's move to train jumpers will be a breath of fresh air for the sport," Lucas said. "I'm confident Gai's involvement will be a real positive for the sport. I think the sport will get an even bigger following from New South Wales now she is training jumpers."
The former Warrnambool Racing Club chairman said all the hard work which had been put in place over the past few years should reap benefits for the sport in the future. "For the past few years the AJRA in conjunction with Racing Victoria have worked very hard to improve all safety aspects of jumps racing. The trainers, jockeys and horses are all better educated regarding the sport," she said. "I'm quietly confident going forward that we are heading in the right direction. It looks like being an exciting jumps season."