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Waterhouse and Bott-trained Converge impresses in J J Atkins.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Converge (2 g ex Conversely by Shamardal) showed an explosive turn of foot to win Saturday's J J Atkins (Gr 1, 1600m) at Eagle Farm and provided his Juddmonte Farm-based sire Frankel (Galileo) with his 15th Group 1 winner and third in Australia.
It was jockey Tim Clark's second winner of the day after winning the Brisbane Cup (Gr 2, 3200m) aboard Knights Order (So You Think), also trained by Waterhouse and Bott.
Clark said it was satisfying to get another Group 1 win for the training combination, who have been big supporters of him.
"We learned a bit with him the other day that he's versatile," he said.
"If we need to go to plan B, which we did the other day, then he's still able to adapt.
"He's done an amazing job, he's been through the Sydney carnival and Gai and Adrian gave him that little freshen up before coming up here.
"Obviously we saw what he did the other day and it's definitely redemption today after just getting beat last time.
"We got it right in the big one and it's very satisfying and it's obviously great to win another big race for Gai and Adrian."
Many thought that Converge would go forward and sit close to the pace after drawing barrier eight, but Clark settled the gelding in midfield. Clark steered him into the middle of the track and the gelding showed an impressive turn of foot, leaving the competition in his wake to win easily by three and a quarter lengths.
Giannis (Flying Artie) finished second with Tiger Of Malay (Extreme Choice) a close third. First season sires accounted for the next three across the line as well with Invisible Tears (Maurice) fourth, Subterranean (Rebel Dane) fifth and Port Louis (Maurice) sixth.
Co-trainer Adrian Bott said the winner refuses to give in.
"He's such a genuine horse. He's not the biggest horse in the stable by any means, but he's got the biggest heart," he said.
"He's the most honest horse we've got and now he's got an explosive turn of foot to go with it, so it's dangerous.
"We can really go home and dream tonight what could be possible for his three-year-old career.
"If he continues to develop physically, and improves every time he steps out like today, well then we've certainly got a lot ahead.
Bred and raced by Evergreen Rich, Converge has now won three of his seven career starts and placed in a further three with his prize money now totalling $961,400.
The gelding is the only winner out of the placed Shamardal (Giant's Causeway) mare Conversely who was bought by BBA Ireland for just €6,000 from the Godolphin draft at the 2017 Goffs February Sale. The following year she was passed in at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale and bought privately by Evergreen Rich, when offered carrying Converge.
His second dam is the US Grade 3 winner Melhor Ainda (Pulpit), who was also placed at Grade 1 level. She produced three winners and is a half-sister to Japanese Listed winner Danon Go Go (Alderbaran) being out of South American Grade 1 winner Potrinner (Potrillazo).
Conversely's Churchill (Galileo) colt was bought by Raphe Bloodstock for $28,000 at last year's Inglis Sydney Weanling Sale and in 2020 she produced a colt by Invader (Snitzel). The mare was covered by Divine Prophet (Choisir) last September.
Frankel's stats in Australia are extremely impressive. He has sired 69 per cent winners to runners and 19 per cent stakes winners to runners, 14 per cent Group winners to runners and eight per cent Group 1 winners to runners. He will be offered to breeders to cover to Southern Hemisphere time again this year for a fee of £70,000 (special live foal), which is the same fee set for his barnmate Kingman (Invincible Spirit).
The victory also provided the late Darley stallion Shamardal (Giant's Causeway) with his seventh Group 1 winner as a broodmare sire. His daughters have produced 61 stakes winners overall to date.
