The Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Converge was too good in the Randwick Guineas 2022 results beating home the short-priced favourite Anamoe in a Sydney wet track thriller.

Converge (pictured) was excellent defeating Anamoe in the 2022 Randwick Guineas third-up. Photo: Steve Hart.

The classy son of Frankel recorded his second elite level win adding the Group 1 $1 million Randwick Guineas (1600m) trophy to that which he won as a juvenile last winter in Brisbane’s J.J. Atkins over the Eagle Farm mile.

Presenting fit third-up and getting out to the 1600m, Converge improved on his back-to-back thirds having been beaten home first and second-up in the Eskimo Prince Stakes and Hobartville Stakes respectively.

The Hobartville Stakes form proved the one to follow into the Randwick Guineas this autumn with the same trifecta, in shuffled order, dominating again.

One of the country’s premier jockeys, Tim Clark produced a perfect ride on Converge who was able to turn the tables on the short-priced Godolphin favourite Anamoe.

Despite his best efforts, the beaten odds-on pick could only manage to run second, while Hobartville runner-up Hilal for Team Hawkes completed the Randwick Guineas trifecta a further two lengths off the top two.

“He (Converge) was able to draw a good barrier today and obviously I didn’t want to give that away,” winning hoop Clark said.

“He likes to stalk the speed and he’s got a really explosive turn of foot but 300m sort of sees him out.

“He travelled really well and travelled into it nicely. I tried to hold him together and count a bit but when I let him go, he really extended quickly, sprinted well and just had to hold Anamoe off late.

“He is a courageous little horse and has been building up to a win like this all prep.

“I was waiting as long as I could and about then (300m) I had a look because I thought Anamoe would be coming at some point. I couldn’t actually see him, he obviously got close late but my horse is just so courageous, he is a little bulldog and I love him to bits.”

One of the first into stride, Converge eventually settled around fifth in the run with plenty of room surrounding him.

Military Expert from the wide alley crossed to lead the field around with Raging Bull charging up into second and Hilal positioned in a great spot third.

The James Cummings-trained Anamoe, winner of the spring’s Caulfield Guineas, was second last the first half of the race and still in a rearward position at the 600m when pulling three-wide to begin his loop.

Clark also took Converge to the outside as he strode up beside the leader, making the move Converge made the move at the 200m.

Once Clark hit the button, Converge was too strong for the chasing favourite who made a late lunge but couldn’t get there in time and Clark recorded his 19^th Group 1 winning ride.

In a fitting result nearly 30 years to the day since Gai Waterhouse started her training career in March of 1992, she won her 14^th Group 1 in partnership with Adrian Bott and her 148^th overall.

“I was very happy with the way the preparation has unfolded to date, knowing we were trying to get him to this race today to peak today and his next couple of runs,” co-trainer Bott told Sky Thoroughbred Central after the win.

“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 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.”

Bott confirmed the likely next-up option would be a rematch with Anamoe, who still looks on track but just didn’t quite perform up to his price, in the Group 1 $600,000 Rosehill Guineas (1600m) on March 19.

A return to Royal Randwick on Day 1 of The Championships on April 2 for the Group 1 $3 million Doncaster Mile (1600m) could also be on the cards for Converge.

“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,” he said. 

“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.”

The Autumn Sun (2019) was the last horse to complete the Randwick – Rosehill Guineas double.

The latest 2022 Rosehill Guineas betting markets at Ladbrokes.com.au have Anamoe on top at $4.20 followed by Converge ($4.50) and the Australian Guineas winner Hitotsu ($5) and are available in full here.

2022 Randwick Guineas Results & Finishing Order

Table Credit: Racing Australia.