Madison County all heart: Forsman
WELLINGTON: Tough 3yrold Madison County became a dual group 1 winner when he overcame difficulties in the home straight to win the Levin Classic at Trentham on Saturday.
The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsmantrained Pins gelding had been unsighted on a race track since his barnstorming finish to win the New Zealand 2000 Guineas, also over 1600m, at Riccarton in November.
Madison County was sent out a shortpriced favourite to claim his second elitelevel victory.
Rider Matt Cameron settled his charge on the rail in midfield on a good speed set up by stablemate Espresso Martini.
Although they were saving ground, that position started to become a trap as the pair found themselves behind a wall of horses entering the home straight.
Cameron finally found a clear path at the 250m mark and drove Madison County between runners. They finished with a powerful sprint to beat fellow Cambridge visitors Hypnos and Vernanme, who deadheated for second.
‘‘He’s not very big but he’s all heart,’’ Forsman said.
‘‘He was four back the fence and, in reality, that was always where he was going to be.
‘‘I sort of wanted to walk away halfway 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.’’
Madison County would now go to the Karaka Million 3YO Classic at Ellerslie in a fortnight.
‘‘He will improve a lot fitnesswise, so hopefully he will be competitive there.’’
Madison County also holds a nomination for the New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie on March 2 and could tackle the older horses under weightforage conditions before then in the Herbie Dyke Stakes at Te Rapa on February 9. Both those races are at group 1 level.
Madison County, a $36,000 yearling purchase, has now won four of his seven starts and more than $530,000 in prizemoney.
Consensus backed up from her sixth in the Rich Hill Mile on New Year’s Day to win the Trentham Stakes in the hands of Chris Johnson.
Carrying a luxurious 53kg under the set weights and penalties conditions, Consensus went straight to the front from barrier rise.
She was challenged by the race favourite, Chance To Dance, at the top of the straight, but eased away at the 200m mark. — NZ Racing Desk