Consortium head on to outrun Hansen in the $400,000 Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes on Sunday 29th January
The three-year-old colt of Bernardini out of Marietta, Consortium, will be contesting for the Grade 3, $400, 000 Holy Bull Stakes on Sunday 29thJanuary at the Gulfstream Park, Florida. The one mile race on dirt has attracted a field of six
three-year-old males.
The excitement for Consortium during the race will be to counter the challenge that the 2011 US juvenile champion, Hansen, will put forth on the track. Hansen stands with three unbeaten career races till yet.
After clearing the maiden special weight on 9th September 2011, he went on to win the Kentucky Cup Juvenile Stakes on 24th September 2011, and struck a hat-trick after claiming the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup
Juvenile on 5th November, 2011.
Hansen topped off his three unbeaten career starts with the Eclipse Award for being the juvenile champion for the year, 2011.
The three-year-old Consortium, wants to counter this enviable record with his own first and second standing from the two races that he has participated in till yet. On 12th November, 2011, Consortium won the maiden special weight
and then came second in an allowance race at the Gulfstream Park on 16th December 2011, which was raced over a distance of six and a half furlongs.
The race was won by Algorithms, who will also be participating in the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes, and is also a three-year colt of Bernardini.
Kiaran McLaughlin commented: “Consortium is doing very well. I would have preferred an outside draw because he is going to take some kickback breaking from stall two but he is going to have to get used to kickback at some point in his career. A mile
should suit Consortium well and we feel that he will run a good race. Algorithms beat us last time out and he has another nice draw in six but I feel that Hansen might not get the mile on his first start of the year”.
The remaining lineup includes My Adonis, Fort Loudon and Silver Max.
The three-year-old colt, My Adonis, has won two out of the six career starts, and the last victory being the Jean Lafitte on 22nd October, 2011. Fort Loudon has amassed four victories in a go from the eight races that he has
taken part in. Silver Max cleared his maiden on 13th January, 2012, before which he kept coming second in the five attempts that he made.
Under training Kiaran McLaughlin, Consortium will ride with John Velazquez. This race will provide Consortium with the chance of stepping up in class and distance and in case he does succeed in upsetting, Hansen, from his unbeaten record, then there
can be no better starting for the new season with a debut victory over a juvenile champion.
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