Trainer Matt Smith chooses softer option for French Endeavour

Matt Smith has opted to dodge taking on the better mares in the Hot Danish Stakes in favour of a benchmark assignment as he bids to get another win on the board for French Endeavour.

The four-year-old has been scratched from Saturday’s Group 2 assignment in preference for the Kia Ora Prague Handicap (1400m) on the undercard with Smith choosing to continue to build her confidence over chasing more black type at this stage.

French Endeavour has been twice Group placed in The Vanity (1400m) and PJ Bell Stakes (1200m) earlier this year and a return to stakes company is likely in the future.

“We want to get her back winning and get a bit of confidence, that’s why we have kept her to benchmark races,” Smith said.

“If they win a benchmark race impressively enough, then you can go to a black-type race.

“The ability is there. She just got a bit lost last prep. She had a couple of tough runs in good company and lost her way a little bit, so we just want to get her back in the swing of things and get her winning.”

French Endeavour was narrowly edged out first-up at Warwick Farm before posting an impressive Kensington track win at her next start.

She was blocked for a run until halfway up the straight at her latest appearance, surging late once clear to just miss behind Need Some Luck at Warwick Farm.

From barrier five at Rosehill and with apprentice Zac Waddick’s three-kilo claim reducing her impost to 56.5kg, Smith is optimistic she will run boldly again.

“She has been good. Last start she was a little bit unlucky and first-up she got grabbed late,” he said.

“She has been around the money and she is running well.”

French Endeavour is one of two Rosehill runners for Smith along with Royal Robbins, who backs up from a 2000m run at Rosehill last week into the TAB Handicap (2400m).