Written by Paul Vettise
Stephen McKee and his connections won’t think twice about a Randwick renewal against the champion Winx (Street Cry {Ire}) with their Group 1 winning mare Consensus (NZ) (Postponed {USA}).
They had a crack at the last autumn carnival and walked away satisfied with the outcome, both performance and prize money-wise, and it’s in their sights again.
“She will definitely go to Australia. We’re looking at Sydney or Brisbane or both,” the Ardmore trainer said.
“She will definitely go to Australia. We’re looking at Sydney or Brisbane or both.” – Stephen McKee.
Consensus raced in both states in 2018 and finished fourth in the G1 Ranvet S. and then sixth in Winx’s G1 Queen Elizabeth S.
Stephen McKee
“She went a really good race in the Queen Elizabeth last year after a hard run in the Ranvet so we may well look at that again,” McKee said.
Consensus, who was subsequently out of the money in the G2 AD Hollindale S. at the Gold Coast, picked up $72,000 for her Sydney efforts and the prize money is again an attractive option for the owners of the 7-year-old.
“They pay right down and there’s not many races you’d get that much for winning.” – Stephen McKee.
The Queen Elizabeth runner-up will receive $755,000, $395,000 is on offer for the third runner home and $180,000 for third.
“They pay right down and there’s not many races you’d get that much for winning. There won’t be many wanting to take Winx on either,” McKee said.
After an indifferent spring campaign, Consensus picked up Group 3 victories in the Trentham S. and in the Taranaki Cup before a last-start third in the G1 Haunui Farm WFA Classic.
“If we go to Australia I’d think she’d probably stay over there and be mated later in the year.” – Stephen McKee.
“She’s going to run in the G1 Bonecrusher New Zealand S. on Saturday and we’ll take a guide from how she runs there and make a definite plan,” McKee said.
“If we go to Australia I’d think she’d probably stay over there and be mated later in the year.”
Consensus
As the winner of 10 races, including the G1 Zabeel Classic, and more than NZ$660,000, Consensus is a valuable mare. Longevity is another feature of her career as she was a debut 2-year-old winner.
She is a daughter of Kate Cross (NZ) (Cape Cross {Ire}), who was successful on four occasions, and her third dam is the former Australian Champion 3-year-old filly and G1 Cox Plate winner Surround (NZ) (Sovereign Edition {Ire}).
“We’d like to have a crack at the Saturday benchmark races, which are worth good money.” – Stephen McKee.
McKee is also planning an Australian campaign for the progressive 4-year-old Maktoum (NZ) (Makfi {GB}).
“He’ll probably go over to Sydney, but not until April,” he said. “There’s only really age group racing and the big races through March.
“We’d like to have a crack at the Saturday benchmark races, which are worth good money.”
Maktoum as a yearling
Highly-rated by McKee, Maktoum has won four of his 12 starts, including two of his last three with his most recent success over 1200 metres at Ellerslie.
“He’s a pretty decent horse and he’s most confident when he’s on ground that’s good to slow,” he said. “When he ran third on Boxing Day at Ellerslie it was heavy.
“He’s a pretty decent horse and he’s most confident when he’s on ground that’s good to slow.” – Stephen McKee.
“He ran a couple of really good races against the better 3-year-olds last season in the G1 Levin Classic and the G2 Waikato Guineas.
“By the time he got to the Derby it was the end of his campaign and he ran accordingly. Since he’s come back we’ve left him to the short course races, but a mile will be his best go.”
Maktoum was purchased out of Valachi Downs’ draft at Karaka by Albert Bosma’s Go Racing syndication company for NZ$100,000. His dam Smitten Kitten (NZ) (Volksraad {GB}) was a stakes winner and is from the family of the former top-line sprinter and multiple Group 1 winner Mr Tiz (Bletchingly).
