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.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Converge treated a high-class field with contempt. Given a ground-saving ride by Tim Clark from an inside barrier, Converge was eased out into the running line turning for home. From then on, it was just a matter of how far. When the judge called the contest off, the gelded son of Frankel has a three and a quarter length margin over the Flying Artie colt Giannis with the Extreme Choice colt Tiger Of Malay a half-head back in third.
Converge has looked a different horse since being allowed to find his feet early.
The Caulfield Guineas and Cox Plate look well within his scope in the spring.
His overall record advances to three wins, two seconds and a third from seven starts with earnings of $961,400.
“We came here hoping to see a performance like that,” Bott said.
“We saw such a great run from him in the Sires, and we thought it was just a matter of holding him together and keep him up to the mark for one more run.
“The (inside) draw was the key. We had all the favours in the run.
“He is putting it all together now. He is such a genuine horse. He is not the biggest in the stable, but he has the biggest heart. He is the most honest horse we have, and now he has a turn of foot to go with it, so he is dangerous.
“We made the decision to geld him early, and I think it has been the making of him.”
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.
Melhor Ainda went through the 2007 Keeneland November breeding Stock Sale, where she was knocked down to Godolphin representative John Ferguson for $2.3million.
(learn more about the breeding of Converge here)
Conversely has a yearling colt by Churchill (IRE), which 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 15th Group 1 winner for Juddmonte Farms world champion Frankel and his third in Australia after Hungry Heart and Mirage Dancer (GB).
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