To state the obvious … a trial is not a race!
But …
If you are in a race for a spot in $15 million The Everest, a trial can be very much part of the persuasive process to entice slot holders to pay attention to a horse.
With the number of slots limited to twelve … and the runners for five of those positions already locked in … there can be no hanging around if you want to stake your claim.
And there certainly was no hanging around when the Bjorn Baler trained Overpass went out to show off his wares in Heat 2 of the trails at Rosehill this morning.
Rachel King had Overpass fly the gates in the 900m trial and Overpass then pushed out to lead by two, then three, then four, then five lengths as the four-year-old son of Vancouver simple sped right away from his opposition, which included the likes of Ranch Hand, Zaaki and Fangirl, under a comfortable gallop.
And that, basically was the last the opposition saw of Overpass, who continued to seemingly love his work as his extended his lead throughout, officially passing the post 8.87 lengths ahead of the second placed Ranch Hand.
The commentator perhaps said it all.
“How far this … Overpass has dominated this trial from barrier to box.
“The closest they got to him in the trail was when they were positioned in the barriers next to him.
“There’s a statement!”
Not a race, just a trial … yes, but this was a big win in the promotional stakes for a place in The Everest for the Baker trained runner with the run thus translating into a good morning’s work on more than one level.
