Super sprinter Overpass maintains unbeaten record in the west with slashing Winterbottom Stakes defence
The remarkable unbeaten record Overpass boasts in the west continued on Saturday with the Bjorn Baker trained super sprinter defending his Winterbottom Stakes title at Ascot.
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The shield of invincibility Overpass dons in the west was on full display on Saturday with the Bjorn Baker-trained star defending his Winterbottom Stakes title in emphatic fashion.
The slashing group 1 triumph extended the six-year-old’s unbeaten record at Ascot to four with his two Winterbottom titles sitting beside his wins in the first two editions of the lucrative The Quokka.
Overpass returned to the west for his Winterbottom defence following an indifferent effort in the Group 1 Champions Sprint at Flemington which followed a slick first up success in the Group 3 Sydney Stakes at Randwick.
From barrier 16 in the Winterbottom, jockey Josh Parr didn’t have things his own way by any stretch, forced to make good use of the son of Vancouver early doors to eventually get up outside leader Bravo Centurion and in a stalking position.
But you wouldn’t have known it late, with Overpass finding another gear turning for home to rip away and establish a race winning lead, much to the joy of favourite punters.
“What a racetrack, what a place Perth is,” trainer Bjorn Baker beamed after the race.
Overpass! That's back-to-back Winterbottom Stakes and he extends his unbeaten record at Ascot to four! 💯
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 30, 2024
Job done for @BBakerRacing and jockey @JoshuaParr8 ✅ pic.twitter.com/aab8Ajqxfo
“That was a really gutsy win today. He had to absorb a heap of pressure early and I must admit I was a bit worried after 200m with how it was unfolding.
“But he’s a very, very special horse and he’s showed that again. I don’t know if we can call him a champion, but he’s getting very close.
“A massive shout out to (owners) Darby Racing. They are my biggest supporter.
“Just amazing to be here and get the result. Very grateful.”
The $822,000 first prize of the Winterbottom takes Overpass’ stakes tally to an eye-watering $9.7m where reaching the magical $10m barrier now seems all but a formality.
While all the plaudits were with the winner, the performance of Maharba to finish second was simply out of this world.
The Grahame Begg-trained four-year-old was last on the fence turning for home before running the winner to three-quarters of a length on the line.
Filling third at monster odds was local Hot Zed for Lou Luciani.
Western Empire, the second favourite in betting behind Overpass, was never really in the hunt, finishing out of the placings.
Originally published as Super sprinter Overpass maintains unbeaten record in the west with slashing Winterbottom Stakes defence
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