The West has been kind to Bjorn Baker and Overpass for the past couple of years, and another Group 1 in Saturday’s Winterbottom Stakes beckons, but the Warwick Farm trainer feels it could have some black-type company from earlier in the day.
Baker will have a close eye on Rosehill from Perth with Robusto in the Festival Stakes, Hollywood Hero in the ATC Cup and Imperial Force in the Starlight Stakes on Saturday.
“I might be in Perth on the weekend, but I think we have some great chances at home,” Baker said.
“Robusto gets back up to a trip where he always runs well, and he was second to Private Eye in that race last year.
“He has a big weight but he has earned it.”
“We decided to wait a week with Imperial Force when it was wet last Saturday, and he is ready to go, and Hollywood Hero is always a chance in a race like he is in on Saturday.”
“I think I’ll have something to cheer from Ascot.”
Overpass is back shooting for a third Winterbottom Stakes on end, and has an impressive record over the Ascot 1200m, also winning a Quokka.
Baker has used a familiar blueprint for Overpass, who has been sparingly raced since his Winterbottom win last year.
There were three autumn runs, starting by being TJ Smith runner-up and fifth in the Quokka, before a trip to Brisbane where he was down the track in the Doomben 10,000.
Then he was brave first-up in The Everest when fourth to Ka Ying Rising, so Overpass arrives back in Perth fresh but with a lot of respect for the locals.
“It is hard to win when you’re on the road, but Overpass does like it over in Perth,” Baker said. “He has settled in like he never left, and to win a third Winterbottom Stakes would be great.”
“We know what works with him. He is a fresh horse, and he likes Ascot, so if he can run up to the Everest run, he’ll be hard to beat.”
“They know what he will try to do, and they will have to run him down.”
