OVERPASS SHOOTING FOR THIRD WIN IN WINTERBOTTOM

Trainer Baker’s seven-year-old galloper in fine form ahead of Group | feature at Ascot

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Overpass has become something akin to an “adopted son” of Perth racing.

The grand campaigner has returned to Western Australia (WA) yet again, as he chases a historic third consecutive win in the A$1.5 million (S$1.26 million) Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1,200m) at Ascot on Nov 29.

It will be the Vancouver seven-year-old galloper’s sixth adventure to Ascot, with the trips having yielded back-to-back wins in the 2023 and 2024 The Quokka (1,200m), and the past two renewals of the Winterbottom Stakes.

He ran in The Quokka for the third time on April 26, but managed only fifth behind WA’s top sprinter Jokers Grin.

Yet Luke Hilton, the racing manager for trainer Bjorn Baker, said current signs point to Overpass returning to his winning ways in Perth’s feature in four days’ time.

The 10-time winner turned in an outstanding last-start performance in the Group 1 The Everest (1,200m) in Sydney on Oct 18, when he was beaten just 1½ lengths by Hong Kong’s champion sprinter Ka Ying Rising, and he has thrived since.

“It was probably the best run of his career,” said Hilton.

“He got a week out after the Everest, came back, had a good trial the other day and he’s in really good form.

“When he went to get on the plane, he looked better than he did before The Everest, so I’m excited.”