‘He could be a Caulfield Cup horse’: Gai Waterhouse has Spring in her step with Eliyass, Bear On The Loose, New Endeavour

Tulloch Lodge is loaded with some of the most talented rising three-year-olds in training but it is three mystery imported horses that excite Gai Waterhouse for the new season.

Eliyass wins the Lord Mayor’s Cup at Royal Randwick in June. Picture: Jeremy Ng / Getty Images

Tulloch Lodge is loaded with some of the most talented rising three-year-olds in training but it is three mystery imported horses that excite Gai Waterhouse for the new season.

Waterhouse and her training partner Adrian Bott have dominated two-year-old racing this season with a stable that boasts the likes of Golden Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot, boom colts Storm Boy, Espionage, Straight Charge, Shangri La Express and Fully Lit, as well as unbeaten filly Clean Energy.

But the Hall of Fame trainer has nominated three former northern hemisphere horses that can make their mark in the feature staying races this spring – Eliyass, Bear On The Loose and New Endeavour.

The trio are still relatively unknown but Eliyass and Bear On The Loose have both won impressively at their Australian debuts this winter and New Endeavour has already recorded a Group 1 placing for the stable.

Import Eliyass smashes them in the Listed Lord Mayor's Cup 🏆 at Randwick to give @GaiWaterhouse1 - Bott a double!@[e-mail]/oVJLyusJDu

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 8, 2024

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“I think Eliyass and Bear On The Loose are two of the most impressive overseas stayers we have seen in a long while,’’ Waterhouse said.

“Eliyass is a lovely stayer, a very, very exciting horse and Bear On The Loose was so good winning at Rosehlll last Saturday when he led in a fast-run race.

“New Endeavour is another very promising horse. Every preparation he has improved out of all knowledge.’’

Eliyass was a stakeswinner in France where he won six races (and two seconds) from his first eight starts before making his debut for the Waterhouse-Bott stable with a brilliant win in the Listed Lord Mayor’s Cup at Randwick last month.

TAB Fixed Odds price assessors were so impressed with Eliyass he has been installed as the $8 equal favourite with the Annabel Neasham-trained Fawkner Park for the Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick on October 5.

Bear On The Loose was promoted to the second line of The Metropolitan betting at $11 after his Rosehill win but for the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 19, he is at $26 and Eliyass rated a $34 chance behind Fawkner Park at $11.

WATCH OUT! There's a BEAR ON THE LOOSE! 🐻

The imported galloper makes an immediate impact in Australia, winning the 10th at Rosehill for @MyRacehorse & @GaiWaterhouse1 with @nashhot in the saddle.

Goes $26 into $21 for the Caulfield Cup. pic.twitter.com/gN3dSIe0lK

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 29, 2024

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New Endeavour has form around Fawkner Park, beating that horse into third placing in the Group 1 Doomben Cup where the Waterhouse-Bott import lost narrowly to Bois D’Argent.

“He’s a very talented horse, New Endeavour, and his two seconds in Queensland were eye-catching efforts,’’ Waterhouse said.

“He has weight-for-age written all over him. We are giving New Endeavour a break now along with Eliyass but I’m excited about what they could do in the spring.

“Eliyass will go ahead in leaps and bounds, he’s a quality individual, he could be a Caulfield Cup horse.

“Bear On The Loose will go through his classes now this winter and that will set him up for the spring.’’

C'est fantastique!

The grey Bois D'argent leads all the way to win a thrilling G1 Doomben Cup for @ANeashamRacing and @blake_shinn!@BrisRacingClubpic.twitter.com/9yN7M4nB4V

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 25, 2024

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Waterhouse also confirmed most of their best two-year-olds are back in work at Randwick ahead of the new season.

The likes of Lady Of Camelot, Espionage, Straight Charge and possibly Storm Boy could also be given their chance to earn starts in the $20 million The Everest this spring.

Storm Boy, the Magic Millions winner, was beaten into third placing as favourite in Lady Of Camelot’s Golden Slipper but Waterhouse said the colt had made significant physical progression during his spell.

“The way Storm Boy has grown and matured during his break is so impressive, he’s developed into a very nice horse,’’ Waterhouse said.

“I know Adrian is thinking of the Golden Rose early in the spring with him.

“But all those colts and fillies that were so impressive winning race after race this season have done so well during their spells.’’

Originally published as ‘He could be a Caulfield Cup horse’: Gai Waterhouse has Spring in her step with Eliyass, Bear On The Loose, New Endeavour