Overpass looks to come back west after 2025 Doomben 10,000
Overpass may have suffered a rare defeat in WA, but the accomplished sprinter is set for another tilt at the Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) later this year, with a return to Perth already in the works.
Before that, the son of Vancouver will line up in Saturday’s Doomben 10,000 (1200m), his final run of the prep before a well-earned break.
Overpass was unplaced for the first time in WA when fifth behind Jokers Grin in the Quokka (1200m) at Ascot, bringing an end to his flawless record in the west.
Scott Darby from Darby Racing admitted the defeat was tough to take but said lessons had been learned, particularly around the horse’s second-up profile following his run in the T.J. Smith Stakes.
“We were naturally very disappointed,” Darby said on Tabradio.
“We thought we could bypass his second up stat.
“That’s not going to happen in the future.
“He’s either going to have to be well and truly spaced between his first and second run, not that it was a bad run, but certainly below par.
“I think he puts in so much first up, he really puts in but probably leaves him a little bit flat second up.
“He sort of fires up again third up and that’s what his stats says, so we kinda of have to work around that now.”
With the Brisbane weather set to deliver a rain-affected track, Darby’s expectations are tempered.
“Pretty low at the moment,” he said when asked about his confidence level.
“If you look at his record on a heavy track it’s duck eggs.
“Unfortunately, there’s no other race to go to.
“He’s not dead-set hopeless, but much, much better on top of the ground.”
After Saturday, Overpass will be spelled and brought back for a Sydney spring campaign targeting the Sydney Stakes or The Everest, before another crack at the Winterbottom.
Overpass jumps from barrier 10 with Joshua Parr in the saddle and is currently second in betting at $5.50 behind Sunshine In Paris ($4.60).
Track Overpass’s run in the Doomben 10,000 and future targets like the Everest and Winterbottom Stakes through Australia’s best betting sites.
More Racing News
Melbourne Cup hopes boosted for Ciaron Maher runners after handicapping
Juja Kibo has taken a significant step towards a Melbourne Cup start, receiving a revised handicap following his impressive victory in The Metropolitan last Saturday.The chief handicapper for Racing Victoria, David Hegan, assigned the Ciaron Maher-trained stayer a 2kg penalty for the $10 million event, acknowledging his dominant 1-3/4-length win...
Crescent King set for Brian Crowley Stakes after Warwick Farm triumph
While Crescent King has not yet been tested in Saturday races, a commanding win at Warwick Farm on Monday could well have earned him a start in Stakes company.The Written Tycoon colt, a three-year-old, now boasts two wins from as many starts this preparation after he reeled in the speedy...
Attrition set for another tilt at the Hill Stakes
Mitch Freedman's primary focus at Flemington last Saturday was on the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes, which he claimed with Skybird, but he was also an interested observer of the Turnbull Stakes.The Ballarat trainer expressed his satisfaction at seeing Cosmic Crusader achieve a dominant 1-3/4-length victory in the 2000-metre Group 1...
Welcometotheshow primed for Toorak Handicap tilt
Trainer Tyler Donaldson-Aitken is preparing to mark a significant career milestone, readying his first Group 1 contender, Welcometotheshow.The race targeted for Welcometotheshow is the highly anticipated Toorak Handicap, a 1600-metre event at Caulfield this Saturday. This comes after the gelding secured his inaugural Stakes race victory at Flemington on September...
Flying For Fun targets Schillaci Stakes after impressive return
Bryce Heys has opted to keep Flying For Fun at shorter distances for now, with the mare's next start set to be in Melbourne for the Schillaci Stakes.The dual stakes winner is expected to be nominated for the 1100m sprint at Caulfield on Saturday. This comes after a promising return...
Close call as Skybird narrowly wins Gilgai Stakes
Depending on when you are reading this, trainer Mitchell Freedman and favourite backers may only just have exhaled as a unique characteristic nearly brought Skybird undone in the Gilgai Stakes at Flemington.Sent out the $2.90 market elect, Skybird looked set for an easy victory as jockey Ben Melham eased the...
Cosmic Crusader's Turnbull Stakes victory points to Cox Plate tilt
Pakenham trainer Andrea Leek has celebrated her most substantial success to date as Cosmic Crusader triumphed in the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington. Leek is now aiming for an even greater prize, hoping to return to headquarters for Australia's premier weight-for-age race, the Cox Plate, with the Perth-owned galloper.The prestigious Cox...
Premiere Stakes victory for Tempted seals Everest start
Tempted has made a powerful statement with her commanding win in the Premiere Stakes at Randwick, effectively securing her owner Godolphin's slot in The Everest and signalling her readiness to challenge Hong Kong's elite sprinter Ka Ying Rising.The official confirmation is awaited, but Tempted is expected to represent the global...
Mr Monaco books Melbourne Cup ticket with Flemington win
The Ciaron Maher stable has successfully gained another 'Golden Ticket' to the Melbourne Cup thanks to Mr Monaco's triumph at Flemington.Mr Monaco triumphed in the Group 3 The Bart Cummings (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday, thereby securing a ballot exemption into the Melbourne Cup (3200m) scheduled for November 3.Previously, Shockletz...
Sam Clipperton makes triumphant return with Group 2 Metropolitan win on Juja Kibo
Jockey Sam Clipperton marked his most significant success since his return from retirement by guiding Juja Kibo to victory in the Randwick staying feature, The Metropolitan, a race now designated as Group 2.Clipperton had stepped away from the saddle just over a year after his 2023 Everest triumph on Think...