Last year's champion 2-year-old colt, OBS April sale topper and 'TDN Rising Star' Corniche (Quality Road–Wasted Tears, by Najran) has been retired from racing and will take up stud duties at Coolmore America's Ashford Stud for 2023.
Bred by Bart Evans and Stonehaven Steadings out of six-time GSW and GISP Wasted Tears, Corniche was purchased for $1.5 million by agent Marette Farrell on behalf of Peter Fluor and K.C. Weiner's Speedway Stables LLC following a powerful :10 flat OBSAPR '21 breeze.
He was then turned over to Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, and took his Del Mar debut handily last September before stretching out successfully in the GI American Pharoah S. The bay completed a perfect juvenile campaign back in San Diego in last November's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Transferred to the Todd Pletcher barn for the 2022 season, he reportedly suffered a hind joint injury on his seasonal debut in Saratoga's GII Amsterdam S. July 31, prompting his retirement. It was his only defeat.
“It's unfortunate that Corniche has been forced to retire at this point in his career, but he will be revered for his remarkable juvenile season,” said Ashford Stud Manager Dermot Ryan. “He's a most impressive-looking individual and I can see him proving extremely popular amongst breeders.”
Corniche retires with earnings of $1,263,500. A stud fee will be announced at a later date.
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