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.
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.
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.”
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.
