7 WINS - 48 HOURS: Concurrence All Class

Taking the necessary improvement, Concurrence (3 c Tagaloa – Consensus, by Postponed) won the $25,000 Maiden 1400 metres on 11 October at Rotorua.  This was Te Akau New Zealand's seventh win in 48 hours, now with a season tally of 31 wins, a lead of nine wins on the Trainers' Premiership. 

A strong finishing fourth when trialling on 25 August at Waipa, Concurrence had circled widest for third when debuting in the Maiden 3YO 1400 metres on 16 September at Matamata, and shaped to advance further.   

Ridden with the intent of leading, Concurrence worked around race favourite Celebrate Now (Savabeel) to lead at the 1000m, travelled well, and leading jockey Michael McNab steadily increased the tempo to simply outstay his rivals.

It was a heady ride, well executed, and a second-up performance to suggest the colt not only has a future up in grade, but also over more distance. 

In the race sponsored by Green Light Insurance Brokers, Concurrence ran 1400 metres in 1:24.0, last 600m in 35 (approx.), on footing upgraded to Soft6, and paid $4.20 & $1.50 on the NZ TAB tote.

“It was a really good win and well-judged ride by Michael McNab,” said Mark Walker, training partner with Sam Bergerson, after Concurrence claimed their seventh win since Friday. 

“He’s a big striding colt, so he got him using his movement a long way from home and timed the run to perfection.  He’s a staying type of horse and once getting over more ground, he’ll be even better. 

“It’s great to train another winner for Yulong. They put an incredible amount into thoroughbred racing and breeding and are very generous supporters of Te Akau.”

Bred and owned by Mr. Zhang at Yulong Stud, Concurrence is by Group 1 Blue Diamond (1200m) winner and resident sire Tagaloa (Lord Kanaloa), out of the Group 1 Zabeel Classic (2000m) winner Consensus (Postponed).

A multiple Group winner, Consensus was a terrific race mare and not only very talented but extremely durable. She won on debut as a two-year-old and trained on to win 11 races up to 2100 metres, amassing over $800,000 in prize money before selling for $622,500 on gavelhouse.com.

Concurrence is from the second crop by Tagaloa, who recently sired his 50th individual winner, and whose best performers to date have been Group 2 Moonee Valley Fillies Classic (1600m) winner Salty Pearl, who placed in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m), and five-time winner Spicy Lu, who included a Group 3 Ethereal Stakes (2000m) victory. 

Concurrence carries a bloodline cross of breed-shaping stallion Storm Bird (Northern Dancer), on the dam line of grandsire Lord Kanaloa, and sire line of Postponed. 

Concurrence was strapped by Sarah West. 

Photo credit - Kenton Wright - www.raceimages.co.nz