Vancouver Colt Wins G2 Expressway

Tara Madgwick - Saturday January 29

The Group II ATC Expressway Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday marked the return of champion colt Anamoe, but he came up short finishing third to unheralded Vancouver colt Overpass and Group I winning mare Forbidden Love.

Advertisement

Overpass scores an all the way win in the G2 Expressway - image Steve Hart

Fresh and above himself in the mounting yard, the James Cummings trained Anamoe was clearly in need of the run and on a track favouring leaders, most punters were prepared for an upset.

Luckless during the spring in three unplaced runs in elite company, Overpass was well tuned for his first run back by Bjorn Baker with two recent solid barrier trials to have him near his top.

Tim Clark grabbed the initiative and sent Overpass forward to lead and he controlled the race before kicking on well to win by half a length over Forbidden Love with Anamoe surging into third.
 


"It was a great ride by Tim. I gave him a bit of an open canvas. He dominated and dictated,” said Bjorn Baker.

"You only have to look at the Roman Consul and Coolmore to know he is a top, top class horse. He has never been the greatest track worker. It is hard to get a line on him from that point of view. He's a race day horse."

Baker is spoiled for choice in terms of where to go with Overpass this year, but is not shying away from thinking big.

"We will just see what happens. He's a fast horse, he has always shown speed. I will nominate him for the Newmarket on Monday,” Baker said.

“We have some unfinished business there. We will give it a bit of thought. There is plenty to think about. There is The Everest, Golden Eagle, there are so many options.

"I only take them half a step at the time, I'm always wary. I said to my team if he runs well today and he happens to win, it gives us the key to anywhere we want to go. I don't run them out of their grades, but I thought enough of him and decided bugger it we will have a crack and it's paid off. He's a superstar colt."

Darby Racing get a great result with Overpass!

A $75,000 Inglis Easter Round 2 purchase for Darby Racing / Will Johnson Bloodstock from the Corumbene Stud draft, Overpass has won four of 10 starts earning $347,000 in prizemoney.

He was bred by Corumbene and is the best of four winners from winning Exceed and Excel mare Walkway who comes from the family of Australian Horse of the Year Northerly.

Walkway has no yearling for the sales this year, but had a colt by Capitalist last spring and was then covered by Shalaa (IRE).

Overpass is the eighth stakes-winner for Coolmore's Golden Slipper winner Vancouver, who has five entries in the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.

 

Advertisment

Race Result - XXXX Expressway Stakes Gr2 1200m

Rosehill Track: Good(3) Time: 1:08.96
1
Overpass
- 3c Vancouver (AUS) x Walkway (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: Tim Clark 55
Vancouver
2
0.5
Forbidden Love
- 4m All Too Hard (AUS) x Juliet's Princess (USA) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: R & M Freedman Rdr: J Bowman 56.5
All Too Hard
3
0.9
Anamoe
- 3c Street Boss (USA) x Anamato (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: J B Mc Donald 55
4
2.5
Belluci Babe
- 5m Per Incanto (USA) x Savamour (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: J Parr 56.5
5
4.2
Superium
- 5g Verrazano (USA) x Rosie's Halo (AUS) (Al Maher (AUS))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: C Schofield 58.5
6
4.5
Standout
- 5h Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Bahia (AUS) (Snippets (AUS))
Tnr: G Ryan & S Alexiou Rdr: K Mc Evoy 58.5
7
6.4
Tiger Of Malay
- 3c Extreme Choice (AUS) x Sambar (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: R & M Freedman Rdr: Tommy Berry 55
More Reading...
Tarzino Stayer Wins G3 Geelong Cup
Trainer Paul Preusker will get another tilt at a Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) after Torranzino ran out a strong winner of the Gr.3 Geelong Cup (2400m) on Thursday.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday October 22
Here is the full list of 37 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sires With Winners - Thursday October 23
Here is the full list of 26 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Bold Showing Tipped for Yes Yes Yes 2YO
Speed Demon will be given every opportunity to live up to his name when he makes his debut at Ellerslie.
2025 G1 Spring Champion – Pedigree Preview
A lot of attention is paid to the sprinting three year-old division and much less so to the stayers, but with $2million in prizemoney the Group I ATC Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on Saturday has attracted a full field of 14 and all of them are on trial at the trip.
Pier Headed to Melbourne
Following his pleasing third placing in last Saturday’s A$5 million Gr.1 King Charles III Stakes (1609m) at Randwick, trainers Darryn and Briar Weatherley have decided to head south with Pier to test his talent in Melbourne.
Premier Racing Stables for Sale in New Zealand
A unique opportunity to get a foothold in the heart of thoroughbred country in New Zealand has arisen offering both functionality and prestige within an ideal base to pursue racing success in the leading equine region in the country.
End Of An Era - 2025 G1 Cox Plate
“There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still” - Franklin D Roosevelt.
TBA Mourn Passing of So You Think
Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA) and Aushorse join the wider industry in mourning the passing of So You Think, one of the modern greats of the Australian turf and a truly elite sire.
$140,000 NZB Ready to Run Graduate Books Ticket to G1 Victoria Derby
Bred for stamina being by Melbourne Cup winner Shoicking from a daughter of Tavistock, talented Kiwi bred three-year-old Azazel has booked his passage for the Gr.1 VRC Derby (2500m) on Saturday week after a tough victory in the Listed Roderick Insurance Brokers 3YO Geelong Classic (2200m) at Geelong on Thursday.