By Sean Cronin
Karl Burke trainee Convergent (Fascinating Rock), runner-up in last term's G1 Deutsches Derby, won the best-turned-out award prior to Saturday's Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise John Porter Stakes at Newbury and claimed the main prize after overcoming traffic problems in the straight to register a third Group-race triumph.
“If we can keep him sound and going the right way I think there is a Group 1 in him for sure,” said Burke. “I suppose he could be the best we've had over these distances and before him it would be Al Qareem. I think we'll certainly have a go at the Coronation Cup, but I think the track and everything about the [G1] King George [& Queen Elizabeth Stakes] at Ascot would be fantastic for him.”
The 4-1 chance and G1 Coolmore Coronation Cup entry, last seen finishing seventh in November's G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern at Munich, lobbed along in third after an alert getaway. Full of run on the bridle when caught in a pocket with a quarter-mile remaining, he quickened impressively once switched into an open lane and stayed on strongly to edge the veteran 2021 winner Al Aasy (Sea The Stars) by a half-length.
For rider Clifford Lee, who was involved in a life-threatening motorcycle accident last year, it was a quickfire double after the victory of Alparslan (Dandy Man) in the Greenham. “When I got back riding out and had the all-clear, it's horses like this you are looking forward to,” the jockey said. “The horses are in great form at home and this is what it is all about, enjoying these big days and the big races. From the cut-away, I could see them edging over and I was a little bit in no man's land as the race was developing. They all got first run on me, but luckily the horse had the engine to get me out of trouble. He was just touched off in the German Derby last year and he's a lovely horse who we all like. The main thing he needs to do is settle and today he was lovely. He's very classy, he'd be right up there with the best at this distance I've ridden. He almost got me a Classic and he'll win a nice race soon.”
Pedigree Notes
Convergent is a full-brother to G3 Fritz Henkel-Preis runner-up Molton Rock and he is out of a half-sister to stakes-winning G3 Stanerra Stakes third Naughty Or Nice (Fastnet Rock) and G3 Give Thanks Stakes second Dark Crusader (Cape Cross). The latter is the dam of G1 Caulfield Cup hero Duke De Sessa (Lope De Vega).
Another half-sister, Cailini Alainn (Danehill Dancer), is the dam of last year's Listed Vinnie Roe Stakes victrix Floresta (Waldgeist).
Convergent's third dam Mosaique Bleue (Shirley Heights), kin to Group 1-winning duo Mersey (Crystal Palace) and Muncie (Sadler's Wells), produced GI Gulfstream Park Breeders' Cup Handicap hero Subtle Power (Sadler's Wells).
Convergent's dam Monty's Miracle (Shamardal), who is from the family of G1 Prix de Diane heroine Madelia (Caro), has the unraced two-year-old filly Performia (Dark Angel) to come.
A quickfire double for @CliffordleexLee and @karl_burke! 👏
CONVERGENT strikes in the John Porter Stakes at @NewburyRacing… pic.twitter.com/XD0EbQCuHC
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) April 18, 2026
Saturday, Newbury, Britain
DUBAI DUTY FREE FINEST SURPRISE STAKES (JOHN PORTER STAKES)-G3, £95,000, Newbury, 4-18, 4yo/up, 12fT, 2:32.78, gd.
1–CONVERGENT (IRE), 133, c, 4, by Fascinating Rock (Ire)
1st Dam: Monty's Miracle (Ire), by Shamardal
2nd Dam: Monty's Girl (Ire), by High Chaparral (Ire)
3rd Dam: Mosaique Bleue (GB), by Shirley Heights (GB)
O/B-Newtown Anner Stud Farm; T-Karl Burke; J-Clifford Lee. £53,875. Lifetime Record: GSW-Fr & Ire, G1SP-Ger, 8-5-1-1, $405,506. *Full to Molten Rock (Ire), GSP-Ger & SP-Eng. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Al Aasy (Ire), 128, g, 9, Sea The Stars (Ire)–Kitcara (GB), by Shamardal. (300,000gns Ylg '18 TATOCT). O-Shadwell Estate Company Ltd; B-Sunderland Holding Inc; T-William Haggas. £20,425.
3–Tenability (GB), 128, g, 4, Frankel (GB)–Tirania (GB), by Pivotal (GB). (125,000gns RNA Ylg '23 TADEY). O-Yvonne Jacques; B-Carisbrooke Stud; T-William Haggas. £10,222.
Margins: HF, HF, 2HF. Odds: 4.00, 3.50, 6.00.
Also Ran: Lion's Pride (GB), Bellum Justum (Ire), Phantom Flight (GB). Scratched: Pride Of Arras (Ire).
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