Multiple Group placegetter French Endeavour earned her way back into some better races after snapping a 13-month winning drought on Wednesday.
The Matthew Smith-trained four-year-old outclassed her rivals to score a dominant win in the $60,000 Precise Air F&M BM78 Handicap (1400m) at the meeting on Randwick’s Kensington track.
The victory was the third of her 15-start career, but first since September last year.
In between she finished fourth in the Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes (1400m), second in the Group 3 The Vanity (1400m) and third in the Group 3 PJ Bell Stakes (1200m) and now that she has rediscovered winning form Smith is keen to get her back in better company.
🇫🇷 French Endeavour cruises to a win at Randwick with @mcacajamez in the saddle for @mcsmithracing! pic.twitter.com/WkkhHH2Q6J
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 9, 2024
“It was a bit frustrating last preparation, we copped a few bad tracks and things, and she’s been in some better races and she’s run really well,” he said.
“I just wanted to give her a bit of confidence these first couple of runs back and see if we can get her in the winner’s circle and then go back to some better races.”
James Mcdonald endorsed the raising of the bar after the $2.70 favourite benefitted from a cosy run midfield one of the fence to take over midway down the straight and power to a soft 1-3/4-length win over Terrestar($6), while $4.20 chance Pippie Beach was a neck away third.
“She’s very, very talented and was obviously placed to perfection today,” McDonald said.
“Hopefully she can build a bit of confidence and keep going.”
French Endeavour’s win was the first leg of a winning double for McDonald, who later won aboard promising Chris Waller-trained filly Extremely Hardys.
That daughter of Extreme Choice took her record to two wins from as many starts at what was her first outing since a six-length debut win at Canterbury on July 3.
Chad Schofield was the other jockey who celebrated a winning double at Randwick, successful aboard heavily-backed $3.60 favourite Crafty Eagle for John Thompson in the 1250m BM78 before rounding out the day with a narrow win aboard Green Belt in the 1800m BM72 event.
