Mornington showdown to gauge Corniche's group 1 prospects

Shawn Mathrick, the trainer, is eager to enter another Stakes contest with Corniche, his recently acquired stablemate.

This former Godolphin horse claimed a win at Flemington on his third run for Mathrick and now lines up in Saturday's Listed Hareeba Stakes (1200m) over at Mornington.

Should he perform well, Mathrick plans a trip to Adelaide targeting the Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m) scheduled for Morphettville on May 9.

Post Corniche's triumph in the Listed Bob Hoysted Stakes (1000m) held on March 28, Mathrick pondered the Hareeba Stakes as a next step, followed perhaps by the Listed Wangoom Handicap (1200m) in Warrnambool on May 6.

Yet The Goodwood arrives merely three days subsequent, complicating Mathrick's deliberations.

"I would prefer to go to The Goodwood," Mathrick said.

"Warrnambool can so tricky. Some just hate it, and you never know until you go there, but I would like to win a Group 1, and he's definitely got the quality to do that.

"Joliestar won the other day, and she only beat him a length-and-a-bit one day and his wet track form is terrific."

The trainer revealed his dedicated efforts to eliminate the minor ailments that troubled the gelding when he first joined the stable.

The gelding Corniche only works out following rain at Cranbourne Training Centre and has put in extensive beach sessions.

"I had to get the pain out of his knees, and his feet and he had heart arrythmia but that has all settled down and he seems good," Mathrick said.

"You never know when those things can flare up again, but he's been super.

"He worked like Manikato on Tuesday. He's a weapon."

Meanwhile, fellow stable runner Unflinching has journeyed to Brisbane for the Listed Ascot Handicap (1000m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Having pursued Corniche home at Flemington, Mathrick labels Unflinching a 1000m expert.

"That's his distance," Mathrick said.

"His run the other day was good, but Corniche was just too good in the last bit."

Unflinching made the trip via an overnight float to Sydney on Tuesday, a day at Rosehill, and then to Brisbane Wednesday night, according to Mathrick.

"It's worth $92,000 to the winner, so if he wins, I can afford to fly him home if I have to," Mathrick said.

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