Picture: Steve Hart
Coach Bjorn Baker says Overpass is in nice order forward of his first-up task at Randwick.
Coach Bjorn Baker believes a below-expectations efficiency from Overpass in final 12 months’s The Everest in all probability performed in opposition to him when it got here to securing a slot this 12 months.
It means the confirmed contemporary performer is as a substitute 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 renew on Saturday’s program.
Overpass, who’s one among 4 emergencies for The Everest, has a midfield attract an enormous subject within the Sydney Stakes and Baker charges the gelding a “tremendous likelihood” in that race in his first begin since taking out The Quokka in Perth for the second-straight 12 months in April.
“I hoped Overpass would get a slot this 12 months however the one unhealthy run he did have final 12 months was in The Everest and that in all probability held him again this 12 months,” Baker, who has Stefi Magnetica in The Everest, stated this week.
“I assumed he was an ideal likelihood final 12 months and I used to be devastated he in all probability didn’t fairly go in addition to I assumed he would.”
Baker charges this 12 months’s Sydney Stakes as a deep race with six particular person Group 1 winners among the many 18 acceptors however he says Overpass is in nice order.
“He’s contemporary up, he’s usually higher contemporary and his work has been very, superb,” Baker stated.
“Josh Parr was thrilled with him on Tuesday morning. It’s a troublesome race, there’s loads of depth and nowhere to cover, so from the gate he’ll be capable of roll ahead and put himself within the first two or three.”
Baker says the sprinter additionally has a few good choices heading deeper into spring after his first-up task.
“Probably Melbourne after which, after all, we’d prefer to get him to Western Australia too,” Baker stated.
“So his spring preparation might be going to go slightly bit deeper than most.”
Overpass is among the many nominations for the Winterbottom Stakes in Perth on November 30, a race he received final 12 months.
Baker additionally has Caballus within the Sydney Stakes, with the four-year-old total returning to Sydney racing having completed on the tail of the sphere in two Group 1 sprints at The Valley in Melbourne to this point this spring.
“Caballus was very disappointing in his most up-to-date begin within the Manikato Stakes however he appears to be like to have come by effectively and he does run effectively at Randwick,” Baker stated.
“There’s going to be a heap of stress so we’ll in all probability simply purpose to get a bit of canopy from the gate.”
Manikato Stakes winner Southport Tycoon is simply shading Overpass for Sydney Stakes favouritism.
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