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Racing

Overpass in fine form ahead of Winterbottom defence

Overpass has returned to his happy hunting ground chasing another feature race success.

OVERPASS winning the TOYOTA FORKLIFTS SYDNEY STAKES at Randwick in Australia.
OVERPASS winning the TOYOTA FORKLIFTS SYDNEY STAKES at Randwick in Australia. Picture: Steve Hart

Overpass has become something akin to an adopted son of Perth racing and the grand campaigner has returned to the West yet again as he chases an historic third consecutive win in the Winterbottom Stakes.

It is the seven-year-old's sixth adventure to Ascot, the trips having yielded back-to-back wins in the 2023-24 The Quokka (1200m) and the past two renewals of the Group 1 Winterbottom over the same journey.

His only defeat came in this year's Quokka when he finished fifth but Luke Hilton, racing manager for trainer Bjorn Baker, says the signs point to Overpass returning to his winning ways.

Not only did the gelding turn in an outstanding last start performance to be beaten just 1-1/2 lengths by champion sprinter Ka Ying Rising in The Everest, but he has thrived since.

"It was probably the best run of his career," Hilton said.

"He got a week out after the Everest, came back, had a good trial the other day and he's in really good form.

"When he went to get on the plane, he looked better than he did before The Everest, so I'm excited."

Overpass travelled to Perth with stablemate Iowna Merc, who contested the Railway Stakes on Saturday.

The latter's main target is the Gold Rush (1400m) at Ascot on December 13, a race that could also land on the radar for Overpass.

"We may even look at a Gold Rush this year with him," Hilton said.

"He's older now and tends to not be as good second-up, but we've never tried him over a bit further second up.

"The main goal will be the Winterbottom, and we'll see what happens after that."

Interstate-trained horses have won 12 of the past 17 runnings of the Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) and while several horses have triumphed twice, including Buffering (2013, 2015) and Ortensia (2009, 2011), none has managed a three-peat since the race's inception in 1952.


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