Quality mare Consensus (NZ) (Postponed) achieved a new career highlight in the $200,000 Group 1 Zabeel Classic (2000m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day, greatly enhancing both her own pedigree and that of a full-sister entered for the 2017 Festival Sale.
Ridden by in-form jockey Alysha Collett for trainer Stephen McKee, Consensus downed an elite weight-for-age field with a potent finishing burst down the Ellerslie straight. She edged out Volkstok'n'barrell (NZ) (Tavistock) by a short neck, with Authentic Paddy (NZ) (Howbaddouwantit) a length and a half away in third.
"The fast tempo helped her and she always seems to run her best races here," McKee said, "She was certainly unlucky back in March in the New Zealand Stakes. It's always great for a mare to get a Group One though."
Consensus was bred by M2 Racing Limited and is raced by Mrs T Gibbens, S Lamond, Mrs D P and M D J Molloy, Touchdown Racing Ltd and Est late M C Molloy. She has had 32 starts for seven wins, nine placings and more than $335,000 in prize-money. She had previously won the Group 3 Sofitel Stakes (2000m) and placed in the Group 1 New Zealand Stakes (2000m) along with two other Group races.
Haunui Farm will offer the full-sister as Lot 1223 in the 2017 Festival Sale. The bay filly is by Postponed out of the Cape Cross mare Kate Cross.
