Convergent could be handed Champion Stakes chance

Karl Burke has raised the possibility of adding impressive Leopardstown winner Convergent to the Qipco Champion Stakes mix.

Third behind dual Derby hero Lambourn and Classic-placed Lazy Griff in the Chester Vase in May, he was agonisingly denied when going for German Derby glory at Hamburg in July, before roaring back to winning ways in Ireland last month with a fine display in the Group Three CMG Group Stakes.

The son of Fascinating Rock – who is owned by Newtown Anner Stud – holds an entry for the Group Two Prix du Conseil de Paris at ParisLongchamp on October 19, but Burke revealed connections are considering paying the £75,000 supplementary fee to add Convergent to Ascot’s 10-furlong Group One feature a day earlier.

Burke said: “If the ground is soft, which it is looking like it will be, he could be supplemented for the Champion Stakes.

“He’s a horse with lots of pace and if the ground is slow, then he’s a fresh horse and there’s a possibility we would supplement.

“He should have won the German Derby really and if he doesn’t go to the Champion Stakes then he’s in a Group Two the next day in France – he will go for one of the two.”

Convergent may be a possibility for British Champions Day, but one member of the Spigot Lodge team unlikely to be seen is Zeus Olympios with Burke so far resisting the temptation to supplement the unbeaten son of Night Of Thunder for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.

Burke already holds a strong hand for that race with the in-form Sun Chariot heroine Fallen Angel, while Zeus Olympios’ owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid could be represented by Richard Hannon’s Rosallion.

That leaves the North Yorkshire handler inclined to stick to his original plan of ending the year on a high after his terrific Joel Stakes success.

Burke continued: “I haven’t discussed it with Sheikh Obaid, but the only race for him is Ascot and I’d rather leave him I think.

“He’s going to be a lovely horse for next year and I think he will physically grow again as well.”