Low draw could be the key for French Endeavour

A low draw could be the key ingredient for the improving French Endeavour to turn the tables on benchmark filly Tiz Invincible in the Group 1 Flight Stakes.

French Endeavour jumped from barrier 14 when she came from worse than midfield to finish fourth to her Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained rival in the Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) last start.

She has gate four on Saturday and given her lack of tactical speed, trainer Matthew Smith says the better alley is crucial.

“Finally, the barrier Gods are on our side,” Smith said.

“It might be less significant for other horses, but for us it’s very significant because she doesn’t have that gate speed.

“She can be closer in the run and poised to strike, rather than having to make up all that ground.”

The Flight Stakes (1600m) is the final leg in the four-race Princess Series and only one of the 12 runners has experience over the journey – Queenslander Miss Joelene who finished fourth in the JJ Atkins (1600m) as a juvenile.

However, Smith has long felt French Endeavour would relish a mile and her preparation has been geared around her peaking on Saturday.

“She’s had the right preparation to run the mile, there are no guarantees you’re going to run the Randwick mile, but she looks like she will,” Smith said.

“Our filly hasn’t done much wrong and she doesn’t look to be too far off them based on exposed form.

“That might be good enough from a better gate.”

Smith hasn’t had a lot of Flight Stakes runners but the fillies who have lined up for him have invariably been competitive.

Hurtle Myrtle finished third behind More Joyous and Sister Madly in a strong 2009 edition, while Slow The Flow was fourth to Secret Admirer a year later.

The trainer can see similarities between French Endeavour and Hurtle Myrtle, who went on to win a Group 1 Myer Classic as an older horse.

“She is a lot like Hurtle Myrtle, she is rangy and she looks a lot like her,” Smith said.

“Every year is different, the year Hurtle Myrtle ran third, More Joyous won it and one of Anthony Cummings’ ran second and the top three all ended up Group One horses.

“It can be a good race and I think this year’s isn’t too bad.

“Gary Portelli’s horse (Kimochi) has been really consistent, Tiz Invincible has been the benchmark and then Gai Waterhouse’s horse (Tropical Squall) is coming on the scene now and improving getting up in trip.

“I think the top four or five are pretty handy.”

Tiz Invincible is a $2.70 favourite while the fillies who filled the placings behind her last start, Kimochi ($5) and Tropical Squall ($7), are next best.

Victorian Mollynickers, who has form around classy filly Charm Stone, is also being kept safe at $7, while French Endeavour is a $12 chance.