Group One Mare Consensus to Race On

Media Release - Thursday November 1

Group One winning mare Consensus will have the first run of her seven-year-old season in the Chesters Plumbing & Bathroom (1300m) at Tauranga on Saturday.

 

ConsensusThe Stephen McKee-trained mare last raced in May when she ended a three start Australian campaign with an eighth placing in the Gr.2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) on the Gold Coast, having also finished fourth in the Gr.1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) and sixth in the Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) in Sydney.

 

"She came straight home and spelled at Kylie Bax's place in Cambridge for about six weeks," McKee said.

 

Consensus was one of 26 horses to have a trial at Te Aroha last Thursday before the meeting was abandoned due to an issue with the track.

 

"She's carrying quite a bit of weight as an older mare so we just gave her a quiet trial but she actually went quite well. Her trial was a couple of seconds faster than the next heat and she had a good blow afterwards so she's really going to improve with this week's race," McKee said.

 

The Tauranga track was rated a Slow7 on Thursday with rain forecast for the rest of the week which is not ideal for the daughter of Postponed whose best performances have been on better tracks.

 

"I'm not expecting a lot from her on Saturday, she's got 60kgs and it's going to be a wet track so she's going to improve a hell of a lot with the run," McKee said.

 

"She'll be naturally competitive as she always is, especially when she's fresh but if she can run in the first four or five I'll be pretty happy with her going forward.

 

"She will then run again at Tauranga in a couple of weeks and then we'll look at the Captain Cook which she finished second to Kawi in last year and then probably on to the Zabeel Classic again."

 

The winner of the 2016 Gr.1 Zabeel Classic (2000m) and fourth in last year's edition, Consensus is likely to race through until the Autumn before going to stud.

 

McKee also prepares Neeson in the Mills Reef Winery (1300m) on Saturday's Great Kiwi Raceday at Tauranga.

 

"He's been working well, he's drawn 18 but he will probably come in a bit with the ballots and he's a nice horse who I think will go through the grades," McKee said.

 

Meanwhile, the Victorian campaign of their stablemate Hasabro has come to an end. The three-year-old colt was galloped on in the Listed Geelong Classic (2200m) last Wednesday.

 

"He pulled up sore so he will have a little break and we will look to the New Zealand Derby," McKee said. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Tycoon Star Makes Winning Debut in G3 Maribyrnong Plate
Tycoon Star looked like the consummate professional when making a winning career debut in the Group III Darley Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) to kickstart Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.
2YOs at Flemington - G3 Maribyrnong Plate Sale Mail
Juvenile racing will kick off Melbourne Cup day on Tuesday with an early start at 10.45am for the Group III VRC Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) with nine colts and four fillies engaged.
Rosemont and Partners Stakes Quinella on Cup Day
Written Tycoon posted his second new stakes-winner on Melbourne Cup Day when promising three year-old gelding Catoggio took out the Listed VRC Amanda Elliot Stakes (1400m)  for Rosemont Stud and partners, who also race the second horse Bosustow.
Kiwi Bred Grey Wins Subzero for OTI at Flemington
New Zealand-bred gelding Cloudland proved a handful for James McDonald at Flemington on Tuesday, but the champion jockey was in a forgiving mood after they had claimed top honours in the Subzero Handicap.
Melbourne Cup Tips – Tara Talks Racing
Tara Talks Racing is now online having had a Sunday arvo drink or two as we go through the Cup horses, so what do Clocker and I like for this year’s Melbourne Cup?
Cup Day Stakes-Winner for So You Think
The Listed VRC TAB Trophy (1800m) for three year-olds on Cup Day at Flemington drew a competitive field of up and comers with So You Think gelding Opening Address stamping himself as a bright prospect for the future with a stylish victory.
Kiwi Bred Gringotts Wins $3million Big Dance
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts(NZ) (Per Incanto) delivered a big payday for his connections with victory in Tuesday’s A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick.
Antrim Coast to Fly Flag for The Oaks Stud
The well-renowned colours of The Oaks Stud will feature across two feature Trans-Tasman meetings this week, kicking off with Antrim Coast lining up in the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) on Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.
Storm Boy Headed to Ireland
Coolmore have today announced via Twitter that top class Justify (USA) colt Storm Boy will be continuing his racing career in Ireland in 2025 under the care of Aidan O’Brien.
Melbourne Cup Pedigree Analysis - Do It Yourself
Breednet has produced a great page with click through to five generation pedigrees for all the Melbourne Cup runners, so for amateur pedigree buffs looking to have a Cup flutter based pedigree here’s your chance  to DIY it!