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...
Niance Overcomes Serious Injury to Claim Stakes Victory
Exciting New Zealand-bred mare Niance has bounced back from a serious injury and picked up right where she left off last spring, collecting her third consecutive black-type win in Saturday’s A$175,000 Listed Bel Esprit Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield.
Stakes Potential for New Hello Youmzain Winner
Late-season black type is on the radar for Platinum Diamond after an impressive upset victory in Saturday’s Full Circle Appearance Medicine 2YO (1200m) at Wanganui.
Another Win for Smart Exceedance Filly
Apprentice Liam Kauri has continued a winning association with the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott stable by partnering their smart three-year-old Tristar to victory in the Ambient Group 3YO (1100m) at Te Rapa, his second victory aboard the filly from just two rides.
First Local Win As New Endeavour (IRE) Records Stakes Success
While it may have taken the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained New Endeavour (IRE) a while to record his first Australian success, connections were rewarded for their patience as the 5yo dominated under Tim Clark to win the Group 3 BRC Lord Mayor’s Cup (1800m) at Eagle Farm.
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.
Best On Breeding
It has been some week for Juddmonte Farm’s champion Frankel.
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.
Kiwi Bred Campaldino Wins G3 for Darby
Promising New Zealand-bred stayer Campaldino passed his biggest test with flying colours at Eagle Farm on Saturday, stepping up to stakes company and adding the A$200,000 Gr.3 Living Turf Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2400m) to his winning sequence.
When in Doubt Back a Frankel!
The $200,000 Listed ATC Lord Mayor’s Cup (2000m ) at Rosehill on Saturday attracted a competitive field of 14 stayers, the bulk of them imports and when you strike an open race like that it’s often wise to follow this piece of advice – when in doubt back a Frankel!
Bright Future for El Roca 3YO
Owner-trainer-breeder Kylie Little believes she might have a promising stayer on her hands with Eagle Rock, who left maiden ranks with an emphatic performance in Saturday’s Matt Edwards-Lime Group Mile (1600m) at Te Rapa.