Back-to-Back Group 1 Wins for Madison County (NZ)

$36,000 Select Sale purchase Madison County (NZ) (Pins) scored his second consecutive Group 1 win with a never-say-die performance in Saturday’s $225,000 Group 1 Fusion Electrical Levin Classic (1600m) at Trentham.

The China Horse Club-owned galloper had already established himself as one of New Zealand’s best three-year-olds, winning the Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and Group 2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) alongside placings in the Group 2 Sarten Memorial (1400m) and Group 3 Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m).

Making his first start since the 2000 Guineas, Madison County raced in midfield in Saturday’s Group 1 feature and was blocked for a run as challengers began to make their bids in the straight.

Just as he seemed to be running out of time, rider Matt Cameron found a way through and Madison County swept to the lead. He began to tire in the closing stages, but fought off all challengers to win by half a length.

“He’s not very big, but he’s all heart,” said Andrew Forsman, who trains in partnership with Murray Baker.

“He was four back on the fence, which is always the sort of position he was going to be in, but about halfway through the race I wanted to walk away – I thought he was going to have too much to do.

“But Matt was patient, got the split in the straight and he got to the front. He hadn’t raced for a while and felt the pinch a bit at the end, but he’s very brave.”

Madison County has now had seven starts for four wins, three placings and $530,935 in prize-money.

He will now be set for the $1m Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie on January 26.

“Provided he comes through this well, we’ll carry on towards Ellerslie,” Forsman said. “He should take quite a bit of improvement out of this race fitness-wise.”

Runner-up Hypnos (NZ) (Reliable Man) is also a Karaka graduate, selling for $50,000 at the 2017 Select Sale.