Second best to Winx a result to celebrate
Spoiling Winx’s party at Randwick on Saturday is the last thing on Stephen McKee’s mind.
The Ardmore trainer will be more than happy for his six-yearold Consensus to play a supporting role behind the wonder mare in the A$4 million Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m).
‘‘I don’t see it as running against Winx, I see it as the A$755,000 for second for a start,’’ McKee said.
‘‘Gailo Chop and all the other good ones will be there, but the breakdown of prizemoney is great and the track should be good, which will suit our mare.’’
Consensus has won eight races, including the Gr 1. Zabeel Classic (2000m) and she finished runnerup in the Gr.1 Haunui Farm WFA Classic (1600m) before heading to Sydney.
‘‘She’s got a lot of black type so she’s really got nothing left to prove at home,’’ McKee said.
The daughter of Postponed finished a respectable fourth in the Gr.1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill in her first Australian appearance.
‘‘She went well on a drying track that got a bit sticky, which meant she couldn’t accelerate and she plugged away,’’ McKee said.
‘‘She came through the race well and she had a nice hit-out this morning with Jason Collett on board.’’
The expatriate New Zealand jockey rode Consensus in the Ranvet and he has the mount again in the Queen Elizabeth.
‘‘This race fits in well for the mare before she goes to Brisbane,’’ McKee said.
Consensus will run in the Gr.2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Gold Coast on May 5 as a lead in to the Gr.1 Doomben Cup (2000m) a fortnight later.
Winx will start from the outside barrier in the field of 10 for the race at Randwick as she attempts to take her winning streak to 25.
Doncaster Mile winner Happy Clapper, who is the second favourite, will start beside the champion in gate nine.
If Winx wins on Saturday, she will record her 18th Group One win.
Humidor, who ran second to Winx in the Cox Plate, will start from the inside alley while Irish visitor Success Days will jump from eight.