“He worked really good … very happy with him. He was strong to the line. Sometimes he is a little bit lazy up the hill, but today he charged all the way through the line.”
That was the stable representative Jenny Wright’s assessment of Overpass’s track gallop earlier this week by in preparation for the Group 3 Gold Rush at Ascot on Saturday, a race in which the highly performed Bjorn Baker trained son of Vancouver is currently a close-up second favourite behind Cosmic Crusader.
“We were a little bit disappointed with the result last time, but we can’t be disappointed in the run he gave.” (Overpass’s quest for a third win in the Winterbottom in his last start only failed by the narrowest of margins).
“He tried so hard. He was super.”
Although Overpass has campaigned successfully in the West in previous seasons, this is the first time Baker has stretched out his summer campaign to more than one run … with the lure of the $1.5 million Gold Rush being too tempting to turn down.
“When Overpass is looking and feeling so great, why not try it,” said Wright. “Plus, he loves it over here.”
Overpass will step up to 1400m for only the third time in thirty-four starts on Saturday, having not chased over the Gold Rush distance since April 2022
“We’ve kept his routine pretty much similar,” said Wright. “He is fit enough. He was hardly blowing when he pulled up after the Winterbottom, so 1400 is not going to be a problem.”
Overpass, a seven-year-old, is a ten-time winner from those thirty-four starts with over $12 million banked in prize money. That’s quite a return, even without the $822 000 first prize on offer in the Gold Rush.
Overpass will have his regular jockey Josh Parr in the saddle, as he has been in every one of Overpass’s starts over the last two-and-a-half years.
Overpass is the $3.70 favourite with swiftbet to win The Gold Rush.
