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Overpass set for Randwick return

Trainer Bjorn Baker says Overpass is in great order ahead of his first-up assignment at Randwick.

OVERPASS.
OVERPASS. Picture: Colin Bull / Sportpix

Trainer Bjorn Baker believes a below-expectations performance from Overpass in last year's The Everest probably played against him when it came to securing a slot this year.

It means the proven fresh performer is instead scheduled to make his return in Saturday's $2 million Sydney Stakes (1200m) on the undercard to The Everest, with Baker having aimed the sprinter to resume on Saturday's program.

Overpass, who is one of four emergencies for The Everest, has a midfield draw in a big field in the Sydney Stakes and Baker rates the gelding a "super chance" in that race in his first start since taking out The Quokka in Perth for the second-straight year in April.

"I was hoping Overpass would get a slot this year but the one bad run he did have last year was in The Everest and that probably held him back this year," Baker, who has Stefi Magnetica in The Everest, said this week.

"I thought he was a great chance last year and I was devastated he probably didn't quite go as well as I thought he would."

Baker rates this year's Sydney Stakes as a deep race with six individual Group 1 winners among the 18 acceptors but he says Overpass is in great order.

"He's fresh up, he's generally better fresh and his work has been very, very good," Baker said.

"Josh Parr was thrilled with him on Tuesday morning. It's a tough race, there's plenty of depth and nowhere to hide, so from the gate he'll be able to roll forward and put himself in the first two or three."

Baker says the sprinter also has a couple of good options heading deeper into spring after his first-up assignment.

"Possibly Melbourne and then, of course, we'd like to get him to Western Australia too," Baker said.

"So his spring preparation is probably going to go a little bit deeper than most."

Overpass is among the nominations for the Winterbottom Stakes in Perth on November 30, a race he won last year. 

Baker also has Caballus in the Sydney Stakes, with the four-year-old entire returning to Sydney racing having finished at the tail of the field in two Group 1 sprints at The Valley in Melbourne so far this spring.

"Caballus was very disappointing in his most recent start in the Manikato Stakes but he looks to have come through well and he does run well at Randwick," Baker said.

"There's going to be a heap of pressure so we'll probably just aim to get a bit of cover from the gate."

Manikato Stakes winner Southport Tycoon is just shading Overpass for Sydney Stakes favouritism.


Racing and Sports

Randwick

Saturday, 19th October 2024

6
ET

TOYOTA FORKLIFTS SYDNEY STAKES (G3)

Age: 3yo and up Type: OPEN
6 f TURF SOFT
6

(local)
AUD $2,001,500
6 f SOFT

TOYOTA FORKLIFTS SYDNEY STAKES (G3)

Age: 3yo and up Type: OPEN


FP Silk Horse, Age & Sex
Sire & Dam
Jockey
Trainer
SP
WT
1st 1. OVERPASS (AUS) 6yo G
VANCOUVER (AUS) - WALKWAY (AUS)
JOSH PARR
BJORN BAKER
$5.5
58.5kg
S G Darby, J Georgatsoulis, P Halfhyde, T Kingston, W E Payne, Ms S G Wilson, B E Wright, Jimlee Racing (Mgr: Ms L Caff), Knuckleheads Racing (Mgr: M J Tylor), Darby Racing Walkway (Mgr: S G Darby), Cantbreakmystride (Mgr: M T Anderson) & Jacknife Racing (Mgr: T P Bolton)

Sales Information

2nd 8. COAL CRUSHER (AUS) 7yo G
TURFFONTEIN (AUS) - MEDIA ACADEMY (AUS)
CHAD SCHOFIELD
JOSEPH PRIDE
$61
58.5kg
Ms K M Pride, Surfing Cowboys (Mgr: Mrs S Arena) & Mrs S Arena
3rd 3. SOUTHPORT TYCOON (AUS) 4yo H
WRITTEN TYCOON (AUS) - READY TO RULE (USA)
MARK ZAHRA
CIARON MAHER
$4.6
58.5kg
Bennett Racing Pty Ltd (Mgr: N P Bennett), R Menchise, Gaire Pty Ltd, Stallion Match, M V Broadhead, M Ellis, J G Falcke, Mrs D Broadhead, Walnickiglider, B J Molloy, B Woonton, Bennett Ready to Rule, B J Britten, A D Stanley, J M Simmons, Australian Bloodstock, Whitegate Pastoral & Widden Stud P/L

Sales Information

4th 5. KING OF SPARTA (AUS) 6yo G
I AM INVINCIBLE (AUS) - OCTAVIA (AUS)
JAMES MCDONALD
PETER SNOWDEN
$11
58.5kg

Sales Information

5th 6. MAZU (AUS) 6yo G
MAURICE (JPN) - CHATELAINE (AUS)
NASH RAWILLER
JOSEPH PRIDE
$7
58.5kg

Sales Information

6th 16. LADY LAGUNA (AUS) 5yo M
OVERSHARE (AUS) - CATALINA DE LAGO (NZ)
TYLER SCHILLER
ANNABEL NEASHAM & ROB ARCHIBALD
$19
56.5kg
7th 4. AIRMAN (AUS) 5yo G
I AM INVINCIBLE (AUS) - ZARA BAY (AUS)
ZAC LLOYD
M, W & J HAWKES
$21
58.5kg

Sales Information

8th 14. CABALLUS (AUS) 4yo H
I AM INVINCIBLE (AUS) - CALMING INFLUENCE (AUS)
CRAIG WILLIAMS
BJORN BAKER
$61
58.5kg

Sales Information

9th 17. CLIMBING STAR (NZ) 5yo M
ZOUSTAR (AUS) - BRYONY (AUS)
DANIEL STACKHOUSE
PHILLIP STOKES
$17
56.5kg

Sales Information

10th 9. ARKANSAW KID (AUS) 4yo G
HARRY ANGEL (IRE) - FLORABELLA (AUS)
BLAKE SHINN
BEN, WILL & JD HAYES
$7
58.5kg

Sales Information

11th 13. ASTERO (AUS) 7yo G
ZOUSTAR (AUS) - LACEY LOU (AUS)
JAY FORD
MATTHEW SMITH
$201
58.5kg

Sales Information

12th 10. HARD TO SAY (AUS) 5yo G
EXCEED AND EXCEL (AUS) - MALASUN (AUS)
ASHLEY MORGAN
JASON DEAMER
$101
58.5kg

Sales Information

13th 12. ROCKETING BY (AUS) 7yo G
SO YOU THINK (NZ) - ACROSS THE MOON (AUS)
KERRIN MCEVOY
DAVID PFIEFFER
$101
58.5kg

Sales Information

14th 18. MUMBAI MUSE (AUS) 4yo M
ZOUSTAR (AUS) - MUMBAI ROCK (AUS)
TOMMY BERRY
MICHAEL FREEDMAN
$19
56.5kg

Sales Information

15th 11. WILLIAMSBURG (AUS) 5yo G
SNITZEL (AUS) - FENWAY (AUS)
TOM SHERRY
BRETT CAVANOUGH
$151
58.5kg

Sales Information

16th 15. ATMOSPHERIC ROCK (AUS) 5yo G
YOUR SONG (AUS) - SPACE ODYSSEY (AUS)
NICK HEYWOOD
DANNY WILLIAMS
$201
58.5kg

Sales Information

17th 7. REMARQUE (AUS) 6yo G
SNITZEL (AUS) - RESPONSE (AUS)
JAMIE KAH
M, W & J HAWKES
$41
58.5kg

Sales Information

FF 2. THINK ABOUT IT (AUS) 6yo G
SO YOU THINK (NZ) - TIARE (AUS)
JASON COLLETT
JOSEPH PRIDE
$8.5
58.5kg

Sales Information