Burke predicting ‘big future’ for German Derby second Convergent

Karl Burke admitted to having mixed emotions following Covergent’s agonising German Derby defeat on Sunday.

The Fascinating Rock colt travelled to Hamburg with major claims, having finished third behind dual Derby winner Lambourn and Epsom runner-up Lazy Griff in the Chester Vase in May, and looked set to oblige after battling his way to the front inside the final furlong.

However, he was denied in the very last stride by Hochkonig, whose rider Nina Baltromei made history by becoming the first woman to win the mile-and-a-half Classic.

Burke said: “He ran a great race and he’s still a raw horse and a young horse that’s improving.

“I think he’s got a big future in front of him, we’ll look after him now and he could be a very good horse for later this year and into his four-year-old career.”

The Spigot Lodge handler plans to give Convergent a short break before bringing him back for a late summer and autumn campaign and feels he has not yet reached the ceiling of his ability.

“We’ll take our time, there’s no real plan – yesterday was the plan,” he added.

“He wants good ground, he doesn’t have to have it soft but he doesn’t want it firm, so there’ll be no rush with him.

“He won’t get home until tomorrow (Tuesday), so we’ll get him back and give him a couple of easy weeks and start to make a plan for probably late August and into September and October.”