‘I don’t know if we can call him a champion, but he’s getting very close’
Baker lauds Overpass after six-year-old lands another valuable prize on his latest Western raid
Bjorn Baker declared Overpass (Vancouver) a “very special horse” after the six-year-old extended his Ascot record to a stunning four-from-four with a dominant triumph in Saturday’s Winterbottom Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m).
Just as in his previous victories over the same course on crossing the country in last year’s Winterbottom and the first two editions of slot race The Quokka (1200m), Overpass made it look like he was born at the Perth track with another almost routine western success.
Barrier 16 of 16 was little impediment to Darby Racing’s gelding. As with his two previous Ascot wins he parked in second place, this time behind a perceived threat in emerging Perth star Bravo Centurion (National Defense).
Popped out into the clear well wide of the fence by regular rider Josh Parr on straightening, the $3.20 favourite, powered away to win by a comfortable 0.8 lengths, with fellow eastern states raider Maharba (Pride Of Dubai) working home well for second at $9.50.
Local bolter Hot Zed (Red Hot Choice) took third at $101, a further 0.3 lengths away, while $3.90 second elect Lady Laguna (Overshare) was sixth, $4.40 local Western Empire (Iffraaj) ninth, and Bravo Centurion faded into last at $16.
Bred and sold by Corumbene Stud to Darby Racing and Will Johnson Bloodstock for $75,000 at the Covid-hit Inglis Easter Round 2 in 2020, Overpass closed in on the $10 million mark in prize-money earnings courtesy of his tenth success from 29 starts.
“It’s one of the special days in racing and he’s just a very, very special horse,” Baker said of Overpass.
“I don’t know if we can call him a champion, but he’s getting very close.
“He’s been super consistent, he’s won almost $10 million now, it’s all very special. It’s amazing to be here.
“I want to give a big shout out to Darby Racing. They’re my biggest supporter.”
Scott Darby was in awe of Overpass’ tenacity and will to win.
“He’s just so tough. I thought we were in strife when he was so wide for so long but he was toying with them, he just kept going,’’ Darby said.
“Bjorn has said it well before, he might not be a champion to the industry, yet, but he’s certainly our champion, he’s won nearly $10 million for a $75,000 Easter buy and I think there’s plenty of racing left in him yet. Who knows where the ceiling is.
“He’s certainly got a love affair with Perth, they might have to build a statue of him over there!’’
With his remarkable track record, Overpass was a well supported favourite despite his outside gate and a disappointing previous start eighth in the VRC Classic (Gr 1, 1200m) on November 9.
Baker said on Friday he felt there may have been slight excuses at Flemington, while conceding Overpass was “a tad disappointing”.
“It didn’t quite work out that day,” he said after Saturday’s win. “Maybe one or two things went against him, but he wasn’t good enough on the day, but he’s been able to bounce back.
“And Josh gets on with him so well. It’s a very, very special day.”
Not only has Overpass built a remarkable racing record, in light of his dam’s patchy breeding history it could be argued he’s lucky to be alive at all.
He’s the fifth of six named foals for 17-year-old mare Walkway (Exceed And Excel). The winner of two moderate races from six starts missed on three of her first four covers, and all up has had 15 matings for nine live offspring.
Her 2021 colt by Capitalist (Written Tycoon) fetched $25,000 at last year’s Inglis Easter yearling sale, sold by Corumbene to Frampton Racing. That made him the cheapest lot of the entire auction – even though his half-brother Overpass had already won five races, including a Group 2.
Walkway now has a Corumbene-bred yearling sister to Overpass, who might fetch a considerably higher price next year.
Overpass is one of 11 stakes winners worldwide – and the sole Group 1 victor – for Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m) hero Vancouver (Medaglia D’Oro), who stands at Victoria’s Woodside Park for $9,900 (inc GST).
The 12-year-old has five stakes winners in Australia. From his three northern hemisphere shuttle seasons – one in Ireland and two in the US – he has three black type victors in America, one in South Africa and another in Peru.