Can Convergent boost cracking Chester Vase Classic form and give Karl Burke German Derby glory?

The Chester Vase has been the go-to Derby trial this year and it could prove the key to another Classic when Convergent tackles the 156th Deutsches Derby (2.43) at Hamburg on Sunday.

The Karl Burke-trained three-year-old was third in the Group 3 contest in May and while he has not been seen since, the winner Lambourn did wonders to the form when completing the Derby and Irish Derby double. The runner-up Lazy Griff – a leading contender for the St Leger – also filled the same position at Epsom before finishing third at the Curragh.

Chester was the third run of Convergent's career, having impressively won his first two outings at Redcar. He is Britain's only runner in the IDEE-backed Classic, with Clifford Lee heading over for the ride.

Burke said: "He's travelled over really well and looks in good shape, I'm looking forward to seeing him run. He's a progressive, high-class horse and hopefully he can improve to be a Group 1 horse too. 

"He's short on experience and it's a big step up in grade, but his form has worked out very well from Chester and he's still progressing."

Convergent will face 17 rivals in the 1m4f contest, including a three-strong line-up for Peter Schiergen as the trainer seeks a seventh German Derby win.

Andrasch Starke bids to become the race's outright winningmost jockey with a ninth success on Path Of Soldier, while Schiergen's team also includes Zauberkonig and Zuckerhut, who landed the Group 2 Union-Rennen at Cologne last time.

He beat Hochkonig that day, who will be a first Classic mount for Nina Baltromei – the champion amateur in Germany last year.

Baltromei said: "I know he has a good chance of winning and we just need a little bit of luck in this big field. I hope we have a nice, quiet race and that he can show that he's a really good horse."

The German Derby also has foreign interest from two French-based expats, with Juwelier representing Italian Alessandro Botti and The Sheriff for Irishman Tim Donworth.

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