breednet.com.au

Group 1 Next for Frankel's Converge

Mark Smith - Saturday April 17

Two-year-old Frankel gelding Converge has next week’s Group 1 Champagne Stakes in his sights following a convincing win in Saturday’s Listed The Agency Real Estate Mile (Fernhill Hcp) (1600m) at Randwick.

Dominant win by Converge (image Steve Hart)

One of the first to begin for Tim Clark, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained gelding took a trail behind the front-runner Maurice’s My Dad. Carrying top-weight of 58kgs, Converge quickly gathered in Maurice’s My Dad (Maurice) to win by one and a quarter lengths with a long-head back to Akahata (Pins) back on third.

“That was a lovely, nice, measured ride by Tim. The first time at the mile today we wanted to be a bit conservative,” Adrian Bott said.

“We thought there might be a bit of pressure from the outside. He is such a tractable horse when Tim asked him to come back he settled nicely. We know he has a sharp turn of foot and we wanted to conserve that for him.  

Advertisement

“We will give serious consideration to backing up next weekend in the Champagne Stakes. That was always on the cards, we just wanted to see him at the mile today.

After making a winning career debut over 1200m at Warwick Farm on December 9, Converge was far from disgraced when one and a quarter lengths from the winner Shaquero in the Group III Pago Pago Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on March 13. Three weeks later he was beaten a length and three-quarters by the impressive Pride Of Dubai gelding Saif in the Group III Baillieu Hcp (1400m) at Rosehill.

A homebred for Tony Bott’s Evergreen Rich, Converge is the first foal of the Shamardal (USA) mare Conversely (IRE) who failed to win in five starts in Ireland.

Conversely was purchased for just €6,000 by BBA (Ireland) as an unraced 3yo out of the Godolphin draft at the 2017 Goffs February Sale.

The daughter of Shamardal (USA) has twice gone through the National Broodmare Sale without finding a buyer.

A daughter of US Grade III winner and dual Grade 1 placed Melhor Ainda (USA) (Pulpit), Conversely has a yearling colt by Churchill (IRE), who was purchased for $28,000 at the 2020 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale, and a colt foal by Invader. She was covered by Divine Prophet last spring.

Converge becomes the 63rd stakes-winner for Juddmonte Farms undefeated champion Frankel.

Advertisment

Race Result - The Agency Real Estate Mile LR 1600m

Randwick Track: Good(4) Time: 1:36.96
1
Converge
- 2g Frankel (GB) x Conversely (IRE) (Shamardal (USA))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Tim Clark 58
2
1.3
Maurice's Medad
- 2c Maurice (JPN) x Presslist (AUS) (Librettist (USA))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: Rachel King 56
3
1.5
Akahata
- 2c Pins (AUS) x Holiness (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: Craig Williams 54
4
1.9
Arnaqueur
- 2c Astern (AUS) x Aloona (USA) (Smart Strike (CAN))
Tnr: Jean Dubois Rdr: T Marquand 56
5
2.7
Alegron
- 2c Teofilo (IRE) x Alegria (AUS) (Medaglia D'Oro (USA))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Tommy Berry 56.5
6
4.2
Gundec
- 2c Kermadec (NZ) x Sunup (AUS) (Fantastic Light (USA))
Tnr: A M Boyle Rdr: J Ford 55
7
10.5
Last Not Least
- 2c Criterion (NZ) x Boundary (AUS) (Manhattan Rain (AUS))
Tnr: J G Sargent Rdr: B Avdulla 54
More Reading...
Frankel's Converge Blows Then Away in the JJ Atkins
A week that started for Frankel with a Group 1 win in the Derby at Epsom ended with a Group 1 win a half-world away in the $1million  Treasury Brisbane J.J. Atkins (1600m) for two-year-olds at Eagle Farm.
Castelvecchio Breaks the Ice
Making her fifth start, the 2-year-old filly Sweet Treats took on her elders when successful in the Semco Maiden Plate (1500m) at Goulburn to have the honour of crediting Castelvecchio with his first winner.
Japan Salutes a Champion as Romantic Warrior Triumphs in Yasuda Kinen
A lather of sweat before the start, Hong Kong’s favourite son, Romantic Warrior (IRE), added another chapter to his illustrious story with victory in the $3,264,000 Group 1 Yasuda Kinen (1600m) at Tokyo on Sunday.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Hawkesbury
There were 11 heats won by juveniles at Hawkesbury on Monday morning with a big wave of youngsters looking to get racing before the end of the season and there were some interesting winners by Trapeze Artist and All Too Hard, plus an intriguing one for Godolphin.
Sires With Winners - Sunday June 2
Here is the full list of 66 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Frankel's Converge Makes a Winning Debut
A two-year-old son of Frankel leading at every call in a pre-Christmas maiden over 1200m at Warwick Farm, provides plenty of promise for the future and there was a lot to like about the career debut of Converge on Wednesday.
Frankel's Converge Brilliant in Randwick Guineas
The Frankel gelding Converge looked something out of the box when ending a successful two-year-old campaign with victory in the Group 1 JJ Atkins at Eagle Farm.
Hong Kong Stakes-Winner for Wandjina
Progressive Aussie bred gelding Galaxy Patch scored his first stakes win at Sha Tin on Sunday when the four year-old son of Wandjina scored a narrow victory in a thrilling finishing to the Group III Lion Rock Trophy(1600m)
Amade Completes a Memorable Weekend for OTI
Amade (IRE) gave the field a minimum 5kgs and a four-length start and still emerged victorious in Sunday’s Listed Sportsbet Sandown Cup (3200m) at Sandown-Lakeside, completing a fantastic weekend for OTI Racing after Warmonger’s romp in the Group 1 Queensland Derby and Hezashocka claiming the Group III Premier’s Cup at Eagle Farm.
Aussie Bred Flag of Honour Wins Canadian G3
The familiar colours of Ron and Judy Wanless were in the winner’s circle at Woodbine on the weekend when talented Aussie bred American Pharoah (USA) gelding Flag of Honour captured the Group III Jacques Cartier Stakes (6f).