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.
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."
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.
