The New Zealand-bred horse beat Beer Garden and Meilucca in Friday’s trial after being well back early under the guidance of jumps jockey Aaron Lynch.

Waterhouse said the six-year-old had done extensive schooling over jumps at Randwick before being sent to respected jumps trainer Eric Musgrove for fine-tuning in the lead-up to the Warrnambool carnival.

“It’s really exciting Valediction won the hurdle trial,” Australia’s first lady of racing said. 

“He has been a good flat horse for us but I just felt it was the opportune time to send him over jumps this season. 

“I’m really excited about the prospect of having runners at the Warrnambool May Racing Carnival, especially a jumper,” she said. 

“Eric will take Valediction to his next jumps trial at Cranbourne this Friday. 

“I sought the assistance of Ciaron Maher last year and he did an outstanding job but this year I thought I would use Eric. 

“The jumps trials are all part of the process of getting Valediction ready for Warrnambool.”

High profile Racing Victoria (RV) board member Pearse Morgan and Musgrove’s wife Inez are among Valediction’s owners. 

Waterhouse, who is enjoying a stellar 2013-2014 season, highlighted by Fiorente’s Melbourne Cup win last year, won four races at Randwick on Saturday.  

She said she was uncertain how many flat runners should would bring to Warrnambool’s three-day May carnival.

“We’re very lucky to have our Melbourne stables at Flemington,” she said. 

“We can send horses down from Randwick to Melbourne to put the finishing touches on them before getting then ready for the Warrnambool carnival

“I’m not really sure now many runners I will have at Warrnambool but I would love to have a Warrnambool Cup runner.”