The Postponed five-year-old, who had won previously at Group Three level, had
to overcome a talented field and the protest siren to claim the feature event
on the Ellerslie programme. Things got tight in the closing stages with third placed runner Saint Emilion squeezed between the winner and runner-up, Volkstok'n'barrell, however the protest was withdrawn as quickly as it was lodged.
The protest siren briefly had trainer Stephen McKee thinking back to earlier in the year where the same two horses were involved in a controversial finish to the Gr. 1 New Zealand Stakes, with Volkstok'n'barrell holding the win despite interfering with Consensus in the run home.
"We've had a quiet run this year but we've had a good day today so hopefully we are on the way back,' he noted.
"The fast tempo helped her and she always seems to run her best races here.
"She was certainly unlucky back in March in the New Zealand Stakes but I don't know whether it would have changed the result that day. It's always great for a mare to get a Group One though."
Well known racing identity Leo Molloy manages the syndicate of family members who race the mare and he was also delighted with the victory.
"She's a consistent mare who's been placed eleven times at stakes level so it's good to get the big one," he said.
"It's good for the family as she's a family horse. Mum is two years dead but this is the first horse she ever raced so it's pretty important to us."
The mare was expertly handled by rider Alysha Collett who was also securing her maiden success at the highest level. With Girl Of My Dreams and Saint Emilion setting a searching speed in front, Collett had Consensus humming along nicely in sixth throughout.
As Saint Emilion kicked strongly, Collett angled Consensus into the clear and set out after him. Ranging up at the 100 metre mark the mare was joined by the heavily backed Volkstok'n'barrell however she had too much in hand as she eased to a short neck victory.
"Today we were on the outside and coming over the top of them with the perfect run," said Collett.
"I couldn't ask for any more. She's a tough mare and she deserves it.
"I'm pretty chuffed. I can't thank Leo and Stephen enough as they've supported me being on her the whole way." – NZ Racing Desk
