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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.  

“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.

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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.

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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
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