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.
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