Trainer Bjorn Baker not counting chickens ahead of Winterbottom Stakes

Bjorn Baker feels the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes should suit Overpass and is happy with his speedy sprinter drawing out in the Perth sprint feature.

Bjorn Baker thinks the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes sets up well for Overpass to win his first Group 1. Picture: Getty Images.

“If you get ahead of yourself in life, you get dropped on your head.”

So says Sydney trainer Bjorn Baker, who isn’t counting his chickens about the prospects of speedy customer Overpass nabbing his first Group 1 at the scene of his $4 million The Quokka triumph in Perth.

By the same token, Baker believes Saturday’s Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot sets up nicely for Overpass who has performed admirably at racing’s highest level but is yet to grab a Group 1.

And Baker was entirely comfortable when Overpass drew barrier 11.

“On paper, the Winterbottom looks a good race for him, but in our game you never get carried away,” Baker told Racenet.

“If you get ahead of yourself in life, you get dropped on your head.

“But I am happy he has drawn out a little bit. It means he will be able to make his own luck, as much as anything.

“If he just happened to miss the kick slightly, if he drew inside, then there was a chance he would get crossed and he could get in trouble trying to extricate himself out.

“But from the barrier he has drawn, he will be able to put himself forward, possibly lead, even one out and one back.”

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Overpass is the Winterbottom Stakes favourite.

Even though Overpass hasn’t yet ticked the Group 1 box, he gave Giga Kick a scare in the 2023 Doomben 10,000 when running a mighty race to finish runner-up.

Baker, who was reduced to tears in a video this week when he reflected on his stable’s amazing success over the last 12 months, admits Overpass ran below expectations when last seen finishing 10th in The Everest.

It prompted Baker to put Overpass’s spring campaign on hold and reset towards the Winterbottom goal.

“Coming off The Quokka win, he went to Brisbane and I thought his run against Giga Kick in the Doomben 10,000 was probably the best of his career,” Baker said.

“He had to sit outside a hot tempo and kept kicking and at the time Giga Kick was in remarkable form.

“I will be honest, I thought he was ready to run the race of his career in The Everest.

“I don’t think he went badly against in a really tough race, but he didn’t run as well as he could.

“He was definitely not quite himself for a week or two after that. Suddenly Perth became the logical option, and he is always good with his runs spaced.”

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Overpass won The Quokka in Perth earlier this year.

Baker has the utmost faith in jockey Josh Parr ahead of the Winterbottom mission.

Parr rode Overpass to glory in The Quokka and again proved he was the master of the big moments when getting a last minute call-up to ride Japanese galloper Obamburumai who stormed to a fabulous win in the Golden Eagle.

This may not be a vintage Winterbottom, but Baker hopes Overpass can join some of the big names who have won the Perth sprint feature.

“You look through the Winterbottom and there’s four international champions who have won the race – Ortensia, Takeover Target, Buffering and Miss Andretti,” Baker said.

“Generally it’s won by a very good horse. To win it would be amazing.”

Originally published as Trainer Bjorn Baker not counting chickens ahead of Winterbottom Stakes