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Competitive against some of the better fillies of her generation, French Endeavour will face a challenge of a different kind when she takes on the older mares this weekend.
Since kicking off her campaign in February, the three-year-old has managed a top-five finish in four Group races, highlighted by placings in The Vanity (1400m) at Flemington and P J Bell Stakes (1200m) at Randwick three starts ago.
She drops back to benchmark 78 grade for the St George Leagues Club Handicap (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday, but with 59kg she does have to concede weight to some experienced mares and overcome a tough draw in barrier 14.
Trainer Matthew Smith scratched French Endeavour from the Dark Jewel Classic at Scone last weekend due to a wide gate but said he was leaning towards rolling the dice at Randwick, pending consultation with her owners.
“She is a bloody nice filly,” Smith said.
“She has been consistent in Group races finishing just behind them and there is probably more to come when she comes back as a mare, she will come back a bit bigger and stronger.
“She has drawn a bit ordinary, and she has got a bit of weight in that race, but she is going well.”
French Endeavour has been in work since the summer and Smith is mindful she is lining up for the seventh run of her preparation on Saturday.
But he did give her a month-long break between runs prior to her P J Bell Stakes placing and says there are no signs at home that she is training off.
“We brought her back from Melbourne and gave her a freshen for the P J Bell – I was actually really pleased with her that day at Randwick when the track was horrible and she ran really well,” Smith said.
“You always worry when they get this deep into their prep, but she is going well and I can’t fault her work.”
Stablemate Miracle Spin will take his place in the Fujitsu Airstage Handicap (1600m) after he finished less than three lengths from dead-heaters Rise Of The Masses and Fall For Cindy over 1400m at Hawkesbury’s stand-alone meeting last start.
He is proven over the course and distance and Smith is anticipating a competitive performance.
“We had him in the Scone Cup and missed a run so he is in this weekend and the mile at Randwick should suit him,” he said.
“He looks good and his work has been good.”
Danny Beasley, who will retire from riding at the end of next month to focus on his budding training career, will ride Smith’s pair.
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