Frankel's Converge Brilliant in Randwick Guineas

Mark Smith - Saturday March 5

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.

Converge beats Anamoe to win G1 Randwick Guineas - image Steve Hart

He disappointed when making his 3yo debut in the Group II Run To The Rose won by Anamoe but has been on an upward trajectory.

Advertisement

It culminated with a dominant performance in Saturday’s $1,000,000 Group 1 Mostyn Copper Randwick Guineas (1600m) at Randwick.

Ridden by Tim Clark, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained gelding showed a brilliant burst of acceleration to defeat Anamoe (Street Boss) by a short-neck with Hilal (Fastnet Rock) a further two and a quarter lengths back in third.

“I was very happy with the way the preparation has unfolded to date, knowing we were trying to get him to peak today and his next couple of runs,” Bott said.

“It’s the first real time we have seen him under the ideal conditions, and it was great to see him able to respond in the manner we know he can.

“The way the race unfolded worked out perfectly for us. Tim (Clark) was able to put him in a positive position early and the race unfolded around him. He got into a lovely spot and was able to work into it nicely. When Tim was looking around like that before he let down, I knew there was a bit more there and I’m glad he was able to showcase that for us.

“I think the natural race is to go to the Rosehill Guineas and potentially we may look at coming back to the Doncaster, the way the three-year-olds get treated and he is so electric with that turn of foot.”

“I’ve no doubt he could see out a Derby trip as well, he’s just got too much class. I will discuss with the connections which way to go and we will map it out from there.”

Converge is now a two time G1 winner - image Steve Hart

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

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

Coolmore Stud consigned the daughter of Shamardal (USA) to the 2018 Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale when she was carrying Converge. She left the ring unsold when she fell short of her $300,000 reserve before being purchased privately for a reported $250,000.

A half-sister to the Japanese stakes-winner Danon Go Go (Aldebaran), Conversely (IRE) is a daughter of US Grade III winner and dual Grade 1 placed Melhor Ainda (USA) (Pulpit), who was bought as a yearling for $125,000 at the 2003 Keeneland September Sale.

Conversely has a two year old colt by Churchill (IRE) named Conservative, a $28,000 purchase at the 2020 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale. She has a yearling colt by Invader catalogued for the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale (lot 116)

Conversely foaled a Divine Prophet last September and boarded a plane for Great Britain a few weeks later.

Advertisment

Race Result - Mostyn Copper Randwick Guineas Gr1 1600m

Randwick Track: Heavy(9) Time: 1:39.13
1
Converge
- 3g Frankel (GB) x Conversely (IRE) (Shamardal (USA))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Tim Clark 56.5
2
0.2
Anamoe
- 3c Street Boss (USA) x Anamato (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: J B Mc Donald 56.5
3
2.5
Hilal
- 3c Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Salma (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: W Pike 56.5
Fastnet Rock
4
4.4
War Eternal
- 3c Pierro (AUS) x Aleria (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: J R Collett 56.5
5
6.5
Military Expert
- 3c Redoute's Choice (AUS) x Gresset (AUS) (Hussonet (USA))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: Tommy Berry 56.5
6
6.6
Raging Bull
- 3g Bull Point (AUS) x Sunday Sinners (AUS) (Danbird (AUS))
Tnr: David Payne Rdr: S Clipperton 56.5
7
6.9
Coastwatch
- 3g Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Bullion Mansion (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: N Rawiller 56.5
8
8.4
Sinba
- 3g Xtravagant (NZ) x Kamili (AUS) (Bernardini (USA))
Tnr: G Ryan & S Alexiou Rdr: J Ford 56.5
9
8.6
Sea Treasures
- 3g So You Think (NZ) x Cagliari (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: Rachel King 56.5
10
15.6
Royalzel
- 3c Snitzel (AUS) x Royal Tithe (AUS) (Show A Heart (AUS))
Tnr: G Portelli Rdr: B Avdulla 56.5
More Reading...
Winning Hat Trick for So You Think Filly
So You Think has ticked over $12million in seasonal earnings with 150 plus winners including seven stakes-winners and while Covert Thinking is not among the luminaries by her sire, this tenacious 3YO has won three on the trot and landed her first metro victory on Wednesday.
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.
Sword Poised to Strike
When the first crop yearlings by a young stallion are well received and go into the right stables that’s always a good sign and then a few months after that is when things start to get really interesting.
Group 1 Next for Frankel's Converge
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.
So You Think 3YO Wins $100,000 Inglis Xtra Bonus
Good placement from the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable for progressive three year-old So You Think gelding Aloysius, who cast off maiden status at Hawkesbury on Thursday in a race that featured a lucrative Inglis Xtra maiden bonus.
2026 Golden Slipper Entries – Sortable, Sale Mail – Find Out More
The new season is nearly upon us and that means all over the country a new crop of rising two year-olds are taking baby steps in the best stables in the land with the Australian Turf Club announcing this week they had received 1927 entries for the 2026 Golden Slipper, so who is in the race?
Lisa Kennedy Recognized for Thoroughbred Welfare
Lisa Kennedy has always had a passion for thoroughbreds, and her efforts in guiding retired racehorses into new careers through EventStars were celebrated at Entain’s Industry Excellence Awards last Sunday as the winner of the Care and Welfare Excellence Award.
Breeding To Win – Crystal Ball – New Season 3YOs to Follow
Analysis of the G1 winning 3YO’s for this season has made us realise how many horses on this list took giant strides from two to three, so we are looking into the crystal ball to find some juveniles we believe could end next season as G1 performers if not G1 winners.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Super Seth has had three G1 winners in Australia this season and John O’Shea and Tom Charlton have trained two of them, so when they produce a lightly raced maiden winner by this exciting young sire we want to know more.
Quality Cambridge Stud draft in National Online Breeding Stock Sale
The need for Cambridge Stud to control the size of their star-studded broodmare band has opened up some special opportunities in the 2025 National Online Breeding Stock Sale on Gavelhouse Plus.