Hitotsu, Converge Land Grade 1s for International Sires

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 03/05/2022 - 09:55
Link: 
Hitotsu, Converge Land Grade 1s for International Sires
Image: 
Description: 

Photo: Mark Gatt
Hitotsu prevails in the Australian Guineas at Flemington Racecourse

The growing influence of international bloodlines in Australia was brought starkly into focus once again when Hitotsu—a colt by Arrowfield Stud shuttler Maurice — landed the March 5 Australian Guineas (G1) at Flemington, while Converge, a son of unbeaten champion Frankel , produced an impressive performance in the Mostyn Copper Randwick Guineas (G1).

With both wins came a small slice of history, as the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Hitotsu became the first horse to land the Flemington group 1 first-up from a spell, while Converge provided Gai Waterhouse—who now trains alongside Adrian Bott—the perfect celebration of 30 years in the training ranks.

Hitotsu's rise to a bona fide group 1 winner has been less than conventional. The colt only broke his maiden at Donald over 1,350 meters last September, after which he finished fifth in the Neds Caulfield Guineas (G1) and then went on to land his first elite-level contest in the Oct. 30 Penfolds Victoria Derby (G1).

With Maher overseeing the stable's runners in Sydney, the celebrations and post-race reaction were left to an emotional Eustace, who was joined at the track yesterday by his parents, James and Gay, after being finally reunited with them earlier in the week having not seen them since the start of the pandemic.   

"It's great to have mum and dad here but I'm gutted that the boss isn't here," Eustace said.

Sign up for

"He's up in Sydney and we don't get to share many big wins."

Ridden by John Allen, Hitotsu scored by a long neck from Lightsaber with Bon's A Pearler another three-quarters-of-a-length away in third.

While he believed the colt had come back in the best shape since his victory in the Derby, Eustace was concerned about whether the 3-year-old would have the burst of speed required to win a group 1 over 1,600 meters.

"It was an awesome ride and he's just a really good horse," Eustace said. "We were confident, but I was a little worried about whether he had the speed to accelerate at the mile, but he needed every inch of the mile."

The race had been touted as a clash between Hitotsu and the Richard Litt-trained Moet & Chandon Spring Champion Stakes winner (G1) Profondo, who was redirected to the Australian Guineas from the Randwick equivalent due to the wet weather in Sydney. But the son of Deep Impact (JPN) never looked comfortable and eventually finished a well-beaten 13th of 15 runners.

Hitotsu was purchased out of the Arrowfield Stud draft by his former trainer Wendy Kelly for AU$100,000 (US$68,663) at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale last year and he ran three times as a juvenile for Kelly, including a tenth-placed finish in the Neds Blue Diamond Stakes (G1), before being acquired by prominent owner Ozzie Kheir and other clients and sent to Maher and Eustace for his 3-year-old career.

The colt is out of the unraced mare Love Is Fickle, herself a daughter of group 1 winner and top producer She's A Meanie. 

Meanwhile, the international theme continued apace in Sydney as Converge advertised the global dominance of Juddmonte Farm's champion Frankel with the gelding adding a Randwick Guineas win to his resume to accompany his juvenile group 1 triumph in the Treasury Brisbane J.J. Atkins Stakes (G1).

Converge wins the 2022 Randwick Guineas at Randwick Racecourse<br><br /> ridden by Tim Clark and trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott
Photo: Grant Guy
Converge wins the Randwick Guineas at Randwick Racecourse

The gelding had no issues with the heavy track conditions, unleashing a potent turn of foot to finish a neck ahead of Anamoe, who came from a long way back and agonizingly fell just short in his attempt to topple the impressive winner. Hilal was a further 2 1/4 lengths away in third.  

Waterhouse's first victory as a trainer came when Gifted Power won at Hawkesbury and the dynamic trainer said she still remembers the day clearly.

"It's remarkable how this has happened thirty years to the day since Gifted Poet won at Hawkesbury," Waterhouse said. "I remember that race like it was yesterday.

"Today was the day to win the Randwick Guineas—it's fabulous to be able to win a group 1 on this date."

Bott said they were confident Converge could win, provided he handled the heavy conditions.

"The way the race unfolded worked out perfectly for us," Bott said.

"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."

Waterhouse and Bott will let the dust settle before deciding Converge's next assignment, but the co-trainers said the gelding is likely to head towards the Doncaster Mile (G1), either via the Rosehill Guineas (G1) or the George Ryder Stakes (G1).

Bred by Evergreen Stud Farm on southern hemisphere time, Converge is the first foal out of the placed mare Conversely.

In 2019 Conversely produced a three-quarter brother to Converge, a colt by Coolmore Stud shuttler Churchill , who was purchased by Raphe Bloodstock for AU$28,000 ($19,449) at the Inglis Weanling Sale in 2020. The colt is now named Conservative and is unraced.

Meanwhile, Converge's Invader half brother will be offered as Lot 116 by Evergreen Stud Farm at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, which gets underway in Sydney on April 5 and last season Conversely produced a filly by Aquis Farm's Divine Prophet.