Trainer Bjorn Baker has sidelined plans for Overpass to pursue a hat-trick in The Quokka out West, focusing instead on sharpening the evergreen seven-year-old sprinter for his comeback.
The gelding readies for attempt number three at the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) on Randwick’s Saturday program, recalling fifth in 2022 versus Nature Strip and second last year against Briasa.
Baker heeds the gelding’s elite first-up stats of 4 triumphs and 4 podiums in 10 races, ensuring comprehensive fitness work for the Vancouver-sired star with over $12 million banked.
Overpass has notched two impressive trials under Baker, latest the 1050m effort on March 27th held up late, calibrated to launch him primed into the $3 million clash.
“He’s in really good order. As we know, he’s great first-up,” Baker said.
“The track definitely didn’t suit him in that trial, but Josh says he’s going as well as ever.
“We’re just mindful as he gets older, a bit stronger and bigger every preparation, we’ve got to make sure he’s that little bit fitter and we do that touch more.
“He’s had a couple of good trials, a gallop away from home. We’ll give him an easy gallop on Tuesday and into the T J.”
Australian sprinting holds no obvious kingpin this preparation, fuelling Baker’s designs on the TJ Smith if drying weather firms Randwick for ‘The Championships’ opener.
“The firmer the track, probably the better, but he can get through a softish track as well,” Baker said.
“If you look at his first-up runs in recent campaigns, he was a very good fourth in the Everest. In the T J Smith last year he was second first-up as well.”
Baker’s team invades the day’s other Group 1 quartets prominently, courtesy of Green Spaces as a prime Australian Derby fancy, Doncaster Mile-bound Pericles post-Futurity success via the Doncaster Mile, and Inglis Sires runner Paradoxium in the Inglis Sires.
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