While it may have taken the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained New Endeavour (IRE) a while to record his first Australian success, after making his local debut in the 2023 $1m Silver Eagle (1300m) in October 2023, connections were rewarded for their patience as the 5yo dominated under Tim Clark to win the Group 3 BRC Lord Mayor’s Cup (1800m) at Eagle Farm.
With the race down to just seven runners after four withdrawals, New Endeavour started second in the betting behind the last start Listed Scone Cup (1600m) winner Tavi Time (Tavistock).
Having shown this time last year that he appreciated a trip to Queensland with narrow second placed efforts in the Group 3 JRA Chairman’s Handicap (2000m) followed by second in the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m), New Endeavour was coming off a last start fifth behind stablemate Les Vampire (Pierro) in the Listed Gosford Cup (2100m).
Settled in third place in the run with the race favourite tracking his every move, the Gavin Bedgood trained mare Jennilala (Shalaa) took up the running.
As the field headed into the Eagle Farm home bend on the heavy 9 rated surface, New Endeavour chased down last start Listed Mornington Cup winner Banker’s Choice (Mongolian Khan) who was having his first start for Ben, Will & JD Hayes.
Although it looked ever so fleeting that Tavi Time would make a race of it, New Endeavour had other plans as he charged through the heavy conditions to record his first black type success, and interestingly his first win since June 2023 when successful over 1408m on the Kempton Park synthetic track in the United Kingdom.
“He's been promising so much and come so close,” said co-trained Adrain Bott. “Twelve months ago he was up here and went within a whisker of winning the Group 1 Doomben Cup.”
“I was confident with him coming in and there was some good excuses there for his last start and thought he'd enjoy those heavy conditions, particularly coming off a strong 2,000 metre run.”
With the wet conditions typical at this time of year during the Brisbane carnival, Bott was noncommittal to any specific future races but admitted he may stay in Queensland for a little while longer.
“He might have to settle in now and stay up here a bit longer. I'm sure there'll be some nice races pop up. We wanted to get today over with and then we'll make an assessment off the back of that.”
Recording a race to race double for the Waterhouse-Bott yard, jockey Tim Clark was glad to see New Endeavour finally break through for a deserving win.
“We thought that in the spring he could aim up to some better targets, but it just hasn't been the case,” stated Clark.
“But good to see him get a confidence-boosting win there. He's been knocking on the door.”
Purchased from the 2023 Goffs London Sale by Gai Waterhouse, Adrian Bott and Johnny McKeever Bloodstock for £260,000 from the Varian Stable, the gelding has earned his connections $778,276 from his three race wins.
One of 22 stakes winners for his Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club-winning sire New Bay (Dubawi), New Endeavour is from a family know in Australia being out of a half-sister to Group 3 winner Luminous Eyes (Bachelor Duke), who is in turn the dam of Fastnet Rock’s dual Group 2 winner Lumosty, who also finished third in the Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara.
