Madison County doubles up in Levin Classic

3 min read

Further riches await Madison County (Pins) after the ultra-tough Pins gelding claimed his second Group 1 success in winning the G1 Fusion Electrical Levin Classic (1600m) at Trentham.

Coming off a break of two months since he won the G1 New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas in November, Madison County's second elite level win was not as comfortable as his first as he overcame difficulties to beat Hypnos (Reliable Man {GB)) and Vernanme (O'Reilly {NZ}), who dead heated for second, by just 0.5l.

Jockey Matt Cameron got the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained favourite into the right spot through the run, settling him back on the fence, but he was forced to sweat for a run until 250m out, when the gap appeared.

He surged through and held his opponents at sway for a very satisfying win for his trainers.

“He’s not very big but he’s all heart,” Forsman said. “He was four-back from the fence and, in reality, that was always where he was going to be."

“He’s not very big but he’s all heart." - Co-trainer, Andrew Forsman

“I sort of wanted to walk away half-way through the race as I thought he had too much to do."

“He was a horse who hadn’t raced for a while and probably just felt the pinch at the end, but he was very brave.”

Bred by Garry Chittick, he was $36,000 buy from the Waikato Stud draft at the 2017 Select Yearling Sale. Madison County has now won over $530,000 for his owners China Horse Club, with three of his four career wins at stakes level.

Madison County was a $36,000 yearling purchase

On to Ellerslie

He will now look for a fourth win at black-type level when he tackles the Listed Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie in a fortnight.

“Provided he comes through this well there is no reason he wouldn’t (go to Ellerslie),” Forsman said.

“He will improve a lot fitness-wise, so hopefully he will be competitive there.”

His next assignment at Group 1 level will likely be the G1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa on February 9, while the G1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie on March 2 is also on his agenda.

Consensus all class

Earlier, Consensus (NZ) (Postponed {GB} stamped her class all over the G3 Barneswood Farm Trentham S .

Coming off a sixth at Ellerslie in the G2 Rich Hill Mile on New Year’s Day, the Steve McKee trained mare put on a dominant performance, defeating Hank Moody (NZ) (Savabeel) by 3.5l, with the other leading contender, Chance To Dance (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) in third.

“It was D-day today with the 53kgs on her back." - Trainer, Steve Mckee

“It was D-day today with the 53kgs on her back," McKee said. “She had been putting herself handy enough so she could run forward today, which you had to be, as they have been winning on the speed."

“It was a good win.”

McKee indicated an Australian campaign was on the agenda for Consensus, with a return trip to the G1 Ranvet S. at Rosehill a race she ran fourth in last year, pencilled in.

The other stakes race on the day went to Supera (NZ) (Savabeel), who captured her first black-type success in the G3 Tui-Backing A Winner Since 1889 Anniversary Handicap.

Ridden by Rosie Myers for trainers Ken and Bev Kelso and Mark Donoghue, Supera easily beat the well-fancied Wyndspelle (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) with Camino Rocoso (NZ) (Shocking) in third.

“I hoped for a bit of luck and luckily I had the horse underneath me," Myers said. “She’s a serious horse.”