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.
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.
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"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.
"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."
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.
