Three decades after landing her first win as a trainer, Gai Waterhouse has celebrated another breakthrough victory, this time in the Randwick Guineas.
Converge has given the trailblazing Waterhouse her first success in the three-year-old feature since it changed from the Canterbury to Randwick Guineas in 2006 and he has done it exactly 30 years after she saddled up her maiden winner, Gifted Poet.
“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 One on this date.”
Converge ($6.50) was outstanding, settling midfield for Tim Clark and unleashing a stunning turn of foot on the wet conditions to bound clear.
Favourite Anamoe ($1.90) came from a long way back and tried hard to chase him down, bridging the margin to a short neck on the line, with Hilal ($4.40) another 2-1/4 lengths away third in a shuffle-up of the Hobartville Stakes placings.
Waterhouse’s co-trainer Adrian 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 their next move but Converge is likely to head towards the Doncaster Mile, either via the Rosehill Guineas or the George Ryder Stakes.
William Pike felt his mount Hilal didn’t relish the ground, while James McDonald was rapt with the effort of Anamoe.
“Super in defeat. He ran enormous,” McDonald said.
The win was Converge’s second at Group 1 level after he claimed the J J Atkins as a two-year-old.