Fastnet's Rock's Corniche Opens Winning Account in Skyline

Mark Smith - Saturday February 25

The Fastnet Rock colt Corniche added to the Godolphin armoury for the Golden Slipper when breaking his maiden in the Group II Elite Sand and Soil Skyline Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Coriche another Slipper hopeful for the blue army (image Steve Hart)

Ridden by Brenton Avdulla for James Cummings, Corniche defeated Coolmore's Snitzel colt Shinzo by one and a half lengths with the strapping Deep Field colt Bases Loaded a short-neck back in third.

Corniche is a Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes defector after placing in both the Group III Blue Diamond Prelude, won by stablemate Barber, and Listed Blue Diamond Preview.

Cummings said it puts a stamp on the Melbourne form.

"He's got the ability to put himself right in the race, he enjoyed getting to Randwick, and I think the form from Melbourne is excellent," Cummings said.

"You might think he succumbed late in proceedings in the Blue Diamond Prelude, but when you think about it, for Barber to get past him and Little Brose, they're too very smart two-year-olds.

"That's pretty good form for a Skyline here with some horses straight from maidens or relatively unexposed and not as tough as a horse like Corniche.

"Three weeks to the Slipper suits our horse. That's why I decided to run him in the Skyline today rather than wait another week. The three weeks suits him beautifully.

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"He is a lovely athletic colt, and we'd have to be delighted with that performance, a nice cruisy win in that sort of Group Two heading into the Slipper in three weeks."

Corniche went one better than his sire in the Skyline (image Steve Hart)

A homebred for Godolphin, Corniche is a half-brother to dual Group III winner Heresy (Street Boss) out of the Group III VRC Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes winner Montsegur (New Approach), who placed in the Blue Diamond Prelude and Silver Shadow Stakes.

A three-quarter sister to Group 1 WATC Winterbottom Stakes winner Paulele (Dawn Approach) and a half-sister to Group III ATC Canonbury Stakes-winner Tessera (Medaglia d'Oro), Montsegur has five winners from six to race.

The lone none-winner, Corniche's 3yo brother Pereille has been runner-up in four of five starts and holds a nomination for the Group II Arrowfield Sprint at Randwick on April 8.  

From the family of Merchant Navy, Legally Bay and Bonaria, Montsegur has a yearling filly and filly foal by Blue Point (IRE). She was covered by Street Boss (USA) last spring.

Corniche becomes the 192nd stakes-winner for Coolmore Stud's champion stallion Fastnet Rock, who finished second to Dance Hero in the 2004 Skyline Stakes.  

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Race Result - Elite Sand & Soil Skyline Stks Gr2 1200m

Randwick Track: Soft(5) Time: 1:10.44
1
Corniche
- 2c Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Montsegur (AUS) (New Approach (IRE))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: B Avdulla 55.5
Fastnet Rock
2
1.5
Shinzo
- 2c Snitzel (AUS) x Samaready (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J B Mc Donald 55.5
3
1.7
Bases Loaded
- 2c Deep Field (AUS) x Passarelle (AUS) (Not A Single Doubt (AUS))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Tim Clark 55.5
4
4.0
Side Show
- 2c Trapeze Artist (AUS) x Our Gilda (AUS) (Medaglia D'Oro (USA))
Tnr: G Ryan & S Alexiou Rdr: K Mc Evoy 55.5
5
4.3
Disneck
- 2c Trapeze Artist (AUS) x Lindisfarne (USA) (City Zip (USA))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: Rachel King 55.5
6
5.4
Make A Call
- 2c Extreme Choice (AUS) x To Dubawi Go (AUS) (Dubawi (IRE))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: S Clipperton 55.5
7
5.8
Rush Hour
- 2c Russian Revolution (AUS) x Pearl Congenial (AUS) (Gio Ponti (USA))
Tnr: Nathan Doyle Rdr: K Jennings 55.5
8
5.9
Ganbare
- 2c Maurice (JPN) x Mardi (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Regan Bayliss 55.5
9
6.2
Extreme Spirit
- 2c Extreme Choice (AUS) x Miss Spirituality (AUS) (Starcraft (NZ))
Tnr: G Portelli Rdr: Tyler Schiller 55.5
10
7.1
Tavs
- 2c Dundeel (NZ) x Quattro Foglie (AUS) (Beneteau (AUS))
Tnr: Richard Litt Rdr: R Dolan 55.5
11
7.2
Diabelli
- 2c Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Wedding Veil (IRE) (Dubawi (IRE))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: J Bowman 56
12
32.1
Speedster
- 2c Pride Of Dubai (AUS) x Tropezina (AUS) (Epaulette (AUS))
Tnr: I B Finn Rdr: Reece Jones 55.5
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