OVERPASS – Runner Profile
MARCH 26, 2024 – Jaike Altieri – Racing & Sports
The Quokka’s inaugural winner will return to defend his crown on April 20.
Overpass will be back at Ascot on April 20 to defend his crown, with RAM Racing and Bjorn Baker confirming they’ll team up once again for The Quokka worth $5 million in 2024.
Baker and the RAM Racing crew teamed up in 2023 to win the inaugural running of the feature race, defeating Amelia’s Jewel and Bella Nipotina.
The son of Vancouver is undefeated in the west, taking out both The Quokka and the Winterbottom Stakes in 2023.
By Racing and Sports measure, Overpass ran to the same 119 figure to win both The Quokka and the Winterbottom but did run better ratings between those two efforts.
The gelding ran a R&S Rating of 122 in both the Doomben 10,000 in May and The Shorts, narrowly defeated by proper Group 1 horses in both events.
The selection of Overpass confirms the quinella from the inaugural running will go toe-to-toe once again with a whopping $5 million on the line this year.
Bjorn Baker will follow the same path that saw Overpass victorious in last year’s Quokka, heading into the race first-up having won his most recent trial on the 18th of March.
The five-year-old has run to a R&S Rating of 115 or better in his last four first-up efforts, a level that has seen him contest The Everest in the past two years.
The confirmation of Amelia’s Jewel and Overpass gives punters a guide on just how good you’ll have to be to win The Quokka in 2024.
Overpass currently holds the highest R&S peak rating of the seven horses already confirmed and coupling that with his on-pace racing pattern, he’ll go very close to defending his crown in 2024.
With Amelia’s Jewel still holding favouritism ($4*) just under a month out from The Quokka, Overpass is the $5* second favourite, with I Wish I Win at $6.50* and King Of Sparta at $8.50* along with Bella Nipontina.
*Prices correct as of 4pm March 25.
About the Slot Holder: RAM Racing
The RAM Racing Syndicate, named after the RAM truck dealer in Rockingham WA, are major supporters of the Western Trilogy and possess slots in each of the three events. Their decision to support the race series reaped immediate dividends having won the inaugural running of The Quokka with Overpass.
The syndicate has already tasted slot race success in 2024, winning the $350,000 Bluff Knoll at Albany with Gemma’s Son.
As well as Overpass in The Quokka, The RAM Racing Syndicate have also locked in Lavra Joe as their runner in the 2024 Nullarbor.