DEVIL’S Point struck classic gold in the Group 2 Coolmore St Mark’s Basilica German 2000 Guineas on Monday for David Menuisier and Silvestre de Sousa.

The chesnut went close in a string of group races as a two-year-old and was notably second in the Futurity Trophy at Doncaster.

This year he won the John Dunlop Conditions Stakes at Goodwood when stepping back up to a mile.

He was one of three British-trained contenders alongside Ed Walker’s Ten Bob Tony and Jane Chapple-Hyam’s Habrdi. Devil’s Point saw his stamina tested on the home straight but he dug deep in the final furlong to hold off Penalty and Ghorgan.

“It was a hard race, the draw wasn’t very favourable to us in 10,” Menuisier told Wettstar.

“Watching all the races today, they don’t come from behind very fast. We felt we had the best horse in the race, so we rode him like the best horse in the race.” A return to seven furlongs now beckons for the winner, with two French targets at Group 1 level already identified.

“It was always the plan to come here and then probably drop back to run over seven furlongs in the Prix Jean Prat and maybe the Prix Maurice de Gheest,” said Menusier. Bred by Ann Marshall and the late Frank Dunne at their Hamwood Stud in Dunboyne, Co Meath, Devil’s Point is by New Bay out of Hairy Rocket, a Pivotal filly who won twice as a two-year-old in England in 2012.

She also produced The Acropolis, Group 2-placed for Aidan O’Brien three years ago.

Devil’s Point cost €200,000 as a foal and made 475,000gns as a yearling but was returned (unpaid) and sold privately to current connections.