The omens were there, the Stephen McKee-trained Consensus made a successful hit and run
McKee's father Trevor trained the great Sunline and while Consensus will never be compared to that champion, she deserved better respect than her starting price of indicated.
Given the run of the race one out one back by Michael Walker, Consensus gradually wore down the thoroughly game leader Spanish Reef by a half-neck with the fast-finishing Kenedna three-quarter of a length back in third.
The 7yo daughter of Postponed (USA) (pictured) came across the Tasman in red-hot form having won a pair of Group III's and at last start third in the Group 1 Haunui Classic won by the imperious Melody Belle.
Back on Boxing Day, 2016 Consensus claimed the scalp of Volkstok'n'barrell in the Group 1 Zabeel Classic at Ellerslie.
It was originally planned to head to Sydney for the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday, the race in which she finished fourth behind Gailo Chop last year, but the wet weather forecast resulted in the switch.
"The way it worked out it just fell for us and it just happened to be the Sunline Stakes," McKee said.
"She doesn't go on tracks that are probably worse than dead or slow so we decided to can Sydney and come here and it worked out all right.
"We will make plans for her during the week. She is here until Saturday so we may even take her home and get her ready for Brisbane."
The tough as teak veteran advanced her overall record to 11 wins, 8 seconds and 5 thirds from 54 starts with earnings of $746,226
Kate Cross has a yearling filly by Showcasing (GB) and a filly foal by Iffraaj (GB) and was covered by Turn Me
