Regan Bayliss bullish New Endeavour can break through in Gosford Gold Cup
New Endeavour is yet to win in Australia but jockey Regan Bayliss says he is jumping on the import at the right time in the Gosford Gold Cup.
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Jockey Regan Bayliss senses he might be on the right horse at the right time when New Endeavour tackles the Listed $300,000 Gosford Gold Cup (2100m) at Gosford on Saturday.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained New Endeavour came to Australia to race in the spring of 2023 and is yet to win in Australia despite several stakes placings.
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The son of New Bay has had a strong build-up for the Gosford Cup with placings in both the Group 3 Doncaster Prelude (1500m) and Group 3 JRA Plate (2000m).
Bayliss is confident he’s now ready to peak.
“I think this race really set up and presents perfectly for him,” he said.
“He is a horse that hasn’t won in Australia yet but he’s run some cracking races.
“He always comes good around this time of year.
“Obviously this time last year he only just got beat in a Doomben Cup over a similar trip so I think this race is perfect for him.”
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New Endeavour is the $3.90 outright favourite for the Gosford Gold Cup from stablemate Les Vampires ($4.20) and 2024 Gosford Gold Cup winner Hezashocka ($4.40).
He should get a draw and barrier to suit this weekend.
“He is the sort of horse that does love a bit of give out of the ground which he does get on Saturday,” Bayliss said.
“He has drawn a lovely barrier (two) and I think he can go close to winning.
“I will just get him nice and comfy in the first four, switch him off for the middle half of the race and he will look the winner at some stage.”
While Bayliss has never had a race ride on New Endeavour, it’s fair to say the Group 1-winning hoop knows plenty about the Tulloch Lodge galloper.
“I have never ridden him on raceday but I would have ridden him about 30 or 40 times in trackwork,” Bayliss said.
“I know the horse very well and I think I am getting on him at the right time.”
New Endeavour holds a nomination for the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) in two weeks’ time where he is currently a $51 outsider in betting.
The gelding finished runner-up to Bois D’argent in the same game last year.
Bayliss was set to ride Infancy in the Takeover Target Stakes but trainer Kris Lees has decided to head to Queensland with the in-form mare instead to tackle the Listed Australian Turf Club Trophy (1200m).
• Archibalds have Depth in Gosford stand-alone assault
He will pilot a colt who could also find himself in Queensland when he partners the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Chicama in the Ortus Financial 2YO Handicap (1200m).
Chicama holds nominations for both the Group 2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) and Group 1 JJ Atkins Stakes (1600m) during the winter carnival.
The son of Written Tycoon is still chasing a maiden victory but comes into Saturday’s test in good form after finishing third behind subsequent Saturday city winner Grand Eagle in an 1100m event at Hawkesbury last month.
“I love this colt,” Bayliss said.
“It was a slick race at Hawkesbury and he was ridden a bit quiet that day.
“He hit the line extremely well and second-up, up to the 1200m and he can be ridden a lot more positively from the barrier.
“He is a horse with a very bright future and if he can get the job done on Saturday, he is a horse than can head to Queensland for those better races.”
Chicama is a $5 chance in a race where Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou’s Sequista is the clear $2.15 favourite.
With Les Vampires scratched from the $500,000 The Coast to run in the Cup, Bayliss won’t have a ride in the day’s main event.
He kicks off his day aboard the Wayne Seelin-trained Apache Breeze in the Gosford IT Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1200m).
Originally published as Regan Bayliss bullish New Endeavour can break through in Gosford Gold Cup
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