Overpass prepared for TJ Smith Stakes on return
The veteran sprinter Overpass probably won't venture West for another triumph in The Quokka, yet Bjorn Baker has the seven-year-old gelding tuned up for a sharp first-up showing.
In its place, Overpass targets his third crack at the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday, following a fifth placing in 2022 to Nature Strip and second last season behind Briasa.
With an excellent fresh record featuring 4 victories and 4 minor placings in 10 attempts, Baker is aware the ageing gelding demands extra conditioning and has meticulously prepared the Vancouver progeny, amassing over $12 million in earnings.
The trainer has schooled Overpass through two robust trials, the freshest at 1050m on March 27th where he was pushed out, intentionally positioning him perfectly for Saturday's $3 million showdown.
"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."
Lacking a clear leader among Australian sprinters this term, Baker hopes to steal the TJ Smith, all the more so if Randwick track eases to firmer for 'The Championships' Day 1 with predicted warm conditions.
"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."
Bjorn Baker is set to feature prominently in Saturday's other three Group 1 events too, via Australian Derby prospect Green Spaces, Pericles who took the Futurity Stakes for the Doncaster Mile, and Paradoxium in the Inglis Sires.
Find the best online bookmakers offering markets for the TJ Smith Stakes.
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