Racing: Consensus back in the groove

Consensus winning the group three Platinum Homes Taranaki Cup yesterday. Photo / Race Images Palmerston North

Group one mare Consensus made it successive group three victories with a tough win in the Platinum Homes Taranaki Cup (1800m) yesterday.

The Stephen McKee-trained mare had won just one race since landing the group one Zabeel Classic (2000m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day 2016, until dominating her rivals in the group three Trentham Stakes (2100m) last month and is racing with an air of confidence.

The seven-year-old mare again looked beautifully placed under the set weights and penalties conditions and was well ridden by Chris Johnson to win narrowly from the fast-closing Dolcetto, while on-pacer Shadow Fox finished third.

"It looked like 250m out, she was going to run away, but Shadow Fox fought back and then Dolcetto came late, so she had to grind it out," McKee said.

"She got a great position. I actually thought that Overtheriver would go forward as well and that there would probably be a bit more speed on than there was, but Chris got in a lovely spot and she did the rest.

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"It's really good to have her back in form. She is a past group one winner, so you don't like to see their form tail off."

Consensus has now won 10 of her 52 starts, with a further 12 placings, and has won more than $600,000 in prizemoney.

Meanwhile, Riccarton trainer Andrew Carston's decision to bypass the Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) last week with Miss Federer in favour of the group three Woburn Farm 2YO Classic (1200m) paid off earlier in the day.

Miss Federer was pushed forward by jockey Lisa Allpress and was caught in a speed duel early with Amazing Team and Folk Dress, which resulted in the Swiss Ace filly being posted three-wide the trip.

She was able to account for the two early aggressors in the straight and held out fast-finishing favourite Hasstobegood to win by a long neck, with 3 lengths back to Last Light.

- NZ Racing Desk