breednet.com.au

A Second Quokka Triumph for Overpass

Mark Smith - Saturday April 20

It was worth $1,000,000 more than last year, but the result was the same: the Vancouver gelding Overpass relegates the local star Amelia's Jewel to second in the $5,000,000 The Kia Quokka at Ascot on Saturday.

Déjà Vu (image Western Racepix)

Once again ridden by Josh Parr for Bjorn Baker, the Darby racing colour bearer defeated the Siyouni mare Amelia's Jewel by a length, with the 3-year-old Rich Enuff gelding Oscar's Fortune a head back in third. An outstanding result for Woodside Park Stud.

Overpass is now three for three in Western Australia after winning the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes last December.

Advertisement

"I'm a purist of racing, I'm not going to say he's a champion yet because we have to do a bit more in the Group 1s," Baker said.

"But he is our champion. He’s Ram Racing's champion. He's Darby Racing's champion and has been the stable stalwart.

"It was a great ride from Josh (Parr); he rode him like the best horse. He has as constant form as any sprinter in Australia.

"It's not easy to win in Western Australia, where there are a lot of good trainers and jockeys.

"I just think I've got the right horse for the right time.

"This guy is a bit of a warrior. He never shows you that much, but when he gets into the thick of a fight, he just keeps giving. Wish I was as resilient as him."

The financial windfall advances the record of Overpass to eight wins and five seconds from 26 starts with earnings of $7,711,500.

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.

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 who was a $25,000 purchase for Frampton Racing at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

Overpass a $75,000 Inglis Easter bargain

After foaling a full sister to Overpass last spring, Walkaway was covered by Stay Inside.

A Golden Slipper-winning son of Medaglia d’Oro (USA), Vancouver stands at Woodside Park Stud for $11,000.

Advertisment

Race Result - The Kia Quokka 1200m

Ascot Track: Good(4) Time: 1:08.88
1
Overpass
- 5g Vancouver (AUS) x Walkway (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: J Parr 58.5
2
0.9
Amelia's Jewel
- 4m Siyouni (FR) x Bumbasina (IRE) (Canford Cliffs (IRE))
Tnr: Simon Miller Rdr: Damian Lane 56.5
3
1.1
Oscar's Fortune
- 3g Rich Enuff (AUS) x Oscar Award (AUS) (Sebring (AUS))
Tnr: D M Luciani Rdr: W Pike 56.5
4
1.4
Bella Nipotina
- 6m Pride Of Dubai (AUS) x Bella Orfana (AUS) (Star Witness (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: Craig Williams 56.5
5
1.7
Saloon Bar
- 4g Sessions (AUS) x Paris Cracker (AUS) (Viscount (AUS))
Tnr: D L Morton Rdr: R Mc Leod 58.5
6
2.2
King Of Sparta
- 5g I Am Invincible (AUS) x Octavia (AUS) (Holy Roman Emperor (IRE))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: B Shinn 58.5
7
2.9
Petula
- 3f Nicconi (AUS) x Run Sally Run (AUS) (Ready's Image (USA))
Tnr: Simon Miller Rdr: P Carbery 54.5
8
3.2
Triple Missile
- 6g Smart Missile (AUS) x Triple Latte (USA) (Medaglia D'oro (USA))
Tnr: G & A Williams Rdr: B Parnham 58.5
9
3.3
Waitak
- 4g Proisir (AUS) x Repo Bay (NZ) (Shocking (AUS))
Tnr: L O'Sullivan & A Scott Rdr: Kyle Wilson-Taylor 58.5
10
4.5
Ripcord
- 3g Written By (AUS) x Single In London (AUS) (Not A Single Doubt (AUS))
Tnr: Luke Fernie Rdr: C Johnston-Porter 56.5
11
5
Malkovich
- 6g Choisir (AUS) x Mabkhara (AUS) (Anabaa (USA))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: S Mc Gruddy 58.5
12
5.1
Almighty Class
- 3g Playing God (AUS) x My Classy Lady (AUS) (Oratorio (AUS))
Tnr: Mitchell Pateman Rdr: Jarrad Noske 56.5
13
7.7
Wild Belle
- 4m Pride Of Dubai (AUS) x Hi Belle (AUS) (Clangalang (AUS))
Tnr: Luke Fernie Rdr: S Parnham 56.5
14
8
Super Smink
- 3f Super One (AUS) x Sminky Shorts (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: D L Morton Rdr: Chris Parnham 54.5
More Reading...
Everest Runner for Vancouver
Woodside Park Stud’s value sire Vancouver will have a runner in the $20,million Everest next month with confirmation today that the Bjorn Baker trained gelding Overpass has been selected for the Australian Turf Club / RAM Racing slot.
One to Watch – Newcastle
The O’Shea /Charlton stable have had a lot of success this season and pivotal to that have been the Kiwi breds in the stable highlighted by G1 winning 3YO’s Linebacker and Maison Louis and the dynamic duo unleashed a promising 2YO debut winner on Tuesday with the NZ suffix.
Kiwi Breeders to be Honoured at National Awards
The New Zealand thoroughbred breeding community will come together on Saturday July 26 to celebrate another year of excellence at the Property Brokers National Breeding Awards at the Sir Don Rowlands Centre in Cambridge.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday July 15
Here is the full list of 38 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
High Hopes for Up and Comers
Andrew Forsman is hoping the younger members of his stable can make their mark in the new season’s age group events.
Vancouver making a pass at Group 1 success
There’s very little chance that Woodside Park’s Mark Dodemaide will be moving far from the TV on Saturday afternoon, particularly given that Overpass will be tackling the sprinting elite in the $1.5 million Doomben 10,000.
Winning Return for Zoustar Colt
Group placed during the autumn when he went around in several of the Golden Slipper lead up races, promising Zoustar colt Hillier made a winning return at Newcastle on Tuesday when resuming from a spell.
JRHA Foal Sale – Equinox Fever and Aussie Star Mares
The JRHA Select Sale continued on Tuesday with the prized foal session and while the sale-topper always looked an obvious one with the Equinox colt from Champion US Mare Midnight Bisou widely tipped to star, our Aussie bred mares still made their presence felt.
Another Valuable Prize for Vancouver's Overpass
Making his first outing since his triumph in the $5,000,000 The Kia Quokka at Ascot in April, Darby Racing's money-making machine Overpass had another thoroughly enjoyable day out in Saturday's $2,000,000 Toyota Forklifts Sydney Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.
Griff Offers Breeders Superb Value
The record of the Group I MRC Caulfield Guineas as an elite sire making race has never been more on display than it is right now with past winners including outstanding young sires The Autumn Sun (2025 fee $66,000), Super Seth ($75,000) and Ole Kirk ($99,000).