'Group 1 performance' by progressive Convergent Convergent, narrowly denied last time in the German Derby, looks a highly progressive sort landing the Group 3 CMG Group Stakes in convincing fashion at Leopardstown on just his fifth career start. The 3/1 shot struck the front about a furlong from home and despite drifting left, kept on strongly under Clifford Lee to beat Fleetfoot by a length and a half. Sons And Lovers set the pace and kept on to finish a further half a length away in third. Winning trainer Karl Burke said, “The horse is heavier and stronger than he was going to the German Derby. I think he’s just maturing into a very good horse. “He always had the potential to put in a performance like that. I know it was a Group 3, but I think it was a Group 1 performance. I don’t think he was doing a lot in front, and I don’t think Cliff even gave him a slap. “He won his Redcar maiden at the end of his two-year-old year. Because he’s by Fascinating Rock he was a band D, which is the lowest band in England. “I said to PJ (Colville) that there is a lovely mile-and-a-quarter race to start him off (this season) at Redcar so that’s why he started there, to give him another bit of experience. “We knew at the end of last year that we had a very good horse, it was just a matter of how far we could take him. “I was very impressed with that performance. He’s got an entry in a Group 1 in Germany if we want to go that route. Next year is going to be his year. He’s still only learning to race. “The race plan went perfectly today. I told him to try and get cover, and Cliff gave him an absolute peach of a ride. “He is a little bit exuberant. They went steady in Germany, and he was strong until two out there. “He’s learning, he came back to Cliff nicely there in the back straight.” Lee said, “I felt like we went quite slow, and my lad was quite keen the whole way around. “I was in the box seat, perfect position and had something to aim at.” Additional reporting by Gary Carson
