Overpass Triumphs in Winterbottom Stakes - First Group 1 for Vancouver

Mark Smith - Saturday December 2

While it might not match the adulation for his close relative Northerly, the Vancouver speedball Overpass is building a huge fan club in the west after adding Saturday’s $1,500,000 Group 1 Crown Perth - Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot to his success in the $4,000,000 The Quokka.

That Group 1 feeling (image Western Racepix)

In winning The Quokka in April, Overpass downed the star three-year-old Amelia’s Jewel, and he had two of the west’s top three-year-old behind him on Saturday.

Rissen by Josh Parr for Bjorn Baker, the Darby racing colour-bearer, travelled on the outside of leader Savatoxl.

Parr headed to the centre of the track on straightening and the 5-year-old gelding was never in danger, holding the Rich Enuff 3-year old Oscar's Fortune by one and three-quarter lengths with the Written By 3-year-old Ripcord a length back in third.

It was revealed after the race that Ram Racing had tied up Overpass for their slot in The Quokka to be run on April 20, 2024 at Ascot.

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Overpass a $75,000 Inglis Easter yearling

With his first Group 1 success, Overpass advances his record to six wins and five seconds from 24 starts with earnings of $4,852,400.

That is a good return on the $75,000 outlaid by  Darby Racing / Will Johnson Bloodstock for the son of Vancouver from the Corumbene Stud draft at the 2020 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale Round 2.

The significance of the race was not lost on Bjorn Baker.

“Four Australian international superstars have won this race: Takeover Target, Ortensia, Miss Andretti and Buffering, Baker said.

“To win this race is amazing. It’s special for Darby Racing and Josh Parr rode him like the best horse. What a year Josh is having. He won the Golden Eagle and Quokka. He is a big race rider and I’m thrilled as this horse deserved it.

“I left it to Josh; just be positive.”

Pressure released and time to ham it up (image Western Racepix)

Bred by Corumbene Stud, Overpass is the best of five winners from as many to race for the winning Exceed and Excel mare Walkway, whose dam Boardwalk Bell (Bellotto) is a half-sister to 9-time Group 1 winner Northerly.

Walkway has a 2-year-old colt by Capitalist and foaled a full sister to Overpass on September 11.

The family is represented at the Magic Millions through Cresssfield's Snitzel filly (lot 362) and at the Tasmanian Yearling Sale through Grenville Stud's Royal Meeting (IRE) colt (lot 95)

Overpass is the first Group 1 winner for Vancouver. After beginning his career at Coolmore Stud, the Golden Slipper winning son of Medaglia d’Oro (USA) now stands at Woodside Stud for a fee of $11,000.

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Race Result - Crown Perth - Winterbottom Stakes Gr1 1200m

Ascot Track: Good(4) Time: 1:10.21
1
Overpass
- 5g Vancouver (AUS) x Walkway (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: J Parr 58.5
Vancouver
2
1.7
Oscar's Fortune
- 3g Rich Enuff (AUS) x Oscar Award (AUS) (Sebring (AUS))
Tnr: D M Luciani Rdr: W Pike 54.5
Rich Enuff
3
2.5
Ripcord
- 3g Written By (AUS) x Single In London (AUS) (Not A Single Doubt (AUS))
Tnr: Luke Fernie Rdr: C Johnston-Porter 54.5
Written By
4
3.4
Red Can Man
- 7g Gingerbread Man (AUS) x Brocky's Ace (AUS) (Surtee (AUS))
Tnr: S J Wolfe Rdr: P Harvey 58.5
5
3.4
My Bella Mae
- 4m Deep Field (AUS) x Mae West (NZ) (Sir Percy (GB))
Tnr: D M Luciani Rdr: P Carbery 56.5
6
3.5
Hot Zed
- 6g Red Hot Choice (AUS) x Zedfire (AUS) (Zedrich (AUS))
Tnr: L P Luciani Rdr: J Whiting 58.5
7
4.4
Laverrod
- 7g Toronado (IRE) x Demasheen (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: S & J Casey Rdr: Jordan Turner 58.5
8
5.3
Resortman
- 7g Helmet (AUS) x Straveen (NZ) (Stravinsky (USA))
Tnr: M L Lane Rdr: B Rawiller 58.5
9
6.5
Man Crush
- 4g Manhattan Rain (AUS) x Crushed (AUS) (All Too Hard (AUS))
Tnr: Luke Fernie Rdr: Michael Poy 58.5
10
6.7
Triple Missile
- 6g Smart Missile (AUS) x Triple Latte (USA) (Medaglia D'oro (USA))
Tnr: L Smith Rdr: D Oliver 58.5
11
6.7
Flying Missile
- 5m Cable Bay (IRE) x Magnus Missile (AUS) (Magnus (AUS))
Tnr: N D Parnham Rdr: S Parnham 56.5
12
6.9
Go Forward
- 6g Written Tycoon (AUS) x Demasheen (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: C & M Gangemi Rdr: Laqdar Ramoly 58.5
13
7.2
Snowdome
- 4h Rommel (AUS) x Snow Pixie (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: N D Parnham Rdr: Chris Parnham 58.5
14
7.2
Phanta
- 6g Gingerbread Man (AUS) x Dubi Dubi Do (AUS) (Dubai Destination (USA))
Tnr: C & M Gangemi Rdr: B Parnham 58.5
15
7.9
Clemenceau
- 5g Capitalist (AUS) x Capital Commander (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: C & M Gangemi Rdr: Jarrad Noske 58.5
16
7.9
Savatoxl
- 8g Kuroshio (AUS) x Li'l Miss Hayley (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: W A Savage Rdr: Holly Watson 58.5
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