A homebred for Godolphin, Fastnet Rock colt Corniche had not won a race since beating Golden Slipper winner Shinzo in the Group II ATC Skyline Stake last season, but he was well fancied in the Group III Gold Coast Guineas (1200m) run at Sunshine Coast on Saturday and duly got the cash under a cool ride from James McDonald.
Consistent without winning in recent runs, the James Cummings trained colt was a close last start fourth in the Group II ATC Arrowfield Sprint behind Group I filly Joliestar and was facing a drop in class for this assignment.
He came with a tenacious late dash between runners to claim a half length win taking his overall record to two wins and five placings from nine starts with prizemoney topping $440,000.
“He took a while to get through his gears which may have been the track, but he showed good tenacity late to come through the gap and fight to the end so it was a good effort,” said James McDonald.
A full brother to Pereille, who won the first race at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday for Godolphin, Corniche is also a half-brother to dual Group III winner Heresy from Group III VRC Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes winner Montsegur, who comes from the family of Fastnet Rock’s Group I winning son Merchant Navy and Group I winners Bonaria and Joliestar.
A three-quarter sister to Group I WATC Winterbottom Stakes winner Paulele (and a half-sister to Group III ATC Canonbury Stakes-winner Tessera, Montsegur has had six winners from seven to race. Montsegur had a colt by Street Boss (USA) last spring and is now in foal to Anamoe.
Corniche’s sire Fastnet Rock has recently been retired from stud duty at Coolmore and is poised to be Australia’s Champion Broodmare Sire for the first time this season.
