Burke excited by prospect of Convergent taking on Calandagan Karl Burke is relishing his exciting Newbury scorer Convergent taking on the world’s best racehorse Calandagan in the Coolmore Coronation Cup at Epsom. Francis-Henri Graffard’s five-year-old is unbeaten since losing a titanic duel with Aidan O’Brien’s Jan Brueghel in the Group One event 12 months ago and both are likely to return to the Surrey Downs on Derby day. However, the fly in the ointment could prove to be the Spigot Lodge handler’s ever-improving son of Fascinating Rock, who made up for an agonising defeat in the German Derby with wins in Ireland and France last year before returning to win in fine style in the John Porter last month. Burke said: “He’s in great form and I’ve been very happy with him. He’s not done any serious work since Newbury, but we’re about to build him up ahead of the Coronation Cup. “We’re definitely heading to Epsom with him and we’re obviously taking on Calandagan, which will be interesting, but he deserves his chance in Group One races and you have to take on the best in these races.” Like Convergent in Germany last year, stablemate Evolutionist just missed out on Classic glory when second in the 1000 Guineas behind True Love at Newmarket. However, she will get another chance at big-race glory when she makes the trip to Chantilly next month for not only the chance to claim French Oaks success, but follow in the footsteps of one of best to grace Burke’s Middleham base, Laurens. “She’s perfect and has come out of the 1000 Guineas fine,” added Burke. “I thought she was going to do it a furlong out and I think on a bit slower ground she might have done, but it was a superb run. “We’ll head to the Prix de Diane and hopefully the step up in trip will help. In hindsight should we have gone to France for their Guineas and did we let one go? But on the other hand it was a great run and you have to be delighted to finish second in a 1000 Guineas.” Meanwhile, one of last year’s star juveniles and fellow 1000 Guineas contender Venetian Sun will revert to sprinting with a target placed on Royal Ascot after the daughter of Starman failed to last home over a mile. Burke added: “Venetian Sun definitely didn’t stay and I thought she had a chance of doing so but she didn’t and she will go back sprinting. “She’ll probably go to the Sandy Lane and then the Commonwealth and I still think she is a very exciting filly to have.”
