By Kobie O'Brien
Sunshine Coast trainer Natalie McCall's eight-time runner-up Cornforth will be out to end a frustrating string of placings in the XXXX Gold Maiden Plate (12.48pm) at Rockhampton on Tuesday.
In 12 starts the Love Conquers All gelding has won the minor money 11 times, including six narrow losses by one length or less.
Although McCall admits Cornforth has every right to be labelled a non-winner, she believes he is well-placed.
“He’s had a bit of a rest, he’s coming off a long spell,” she said.
“He’s had a throat op which will definitely help him, that’s why he probably hasn’t been finishing off like he should.”
With form around the likes of city winners Hang, Tversky and I've Gotta Nel, one could understand the connections' frustration over the past two seasons.
“He’s always shown above average ability to be frank," McCall said.
“I thought he was the kind of horse that would go to the races and be winning pretty quickly.
“He always works the house down and always trials well, but he always seems to find something to beat him. With the throat operation, that might be the key to him, we hope."
McCall is in Rockhampton in search of a winning double, with three-year-old first-starter Gram Paso set to line up in Race 4.
Gram Paso will be looking to follow in the footsteps of stablemate Gossiaux, which was a convincing maiden winner last Tuesday.
“He’s drawn nice and he’ll be competitive,” McCall said.
“He’s a nice horse but he’s pretty immature still hence the trip up there.”
McCall’s runners have been placed 4 times from 9 starts at Callaghan Park in season 2017-18, with Rockhampton in fact shaping up as one of her most prolific tracks in the last 12 months.
The Sunshine Coast trainer has hinted she will again be present throughout carnival time up north, chasing back-to-back Rockhampton Cups with 2017 winner Colour Charge.