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.
