Outstanding sprinter Overpass – the new King of the West – kept his unbeaten record in feature WA races intact today with another scintillating performance to win the $5m The Quokka at Ascot.
The Bjorn Baker-trained 5YO has ventured west to Perth three times in the past 12 months for three big-race wins – in last year’s inaugural running of The Quokka, then the G1 Winterbottom Stakes in December and now again this afternoon.
Just a $75,000 Easter Yearling Sale buy for Darby Racing and Will Johnson from the draft of his breeder Corumbene Stud, Overpass has now won more than $8m prizemoney from his eight career wins.
Baker described Overpass (pictured), who ran in the Ram Racing slot in The Quokka, as “our champion’’.
“I’m a purist of racing so I’m not going to say he’s a champion, we’ve got to do a bit more with the Group 1s yet but he’s our champion, he’s Ram Racing’s champion, he’s Darby Racing’s champion, he’s been a stable stalwart, I love him,’’ the trainer said.
“You could argue he’s got as good consistent form as any sprinter in Australia and I think he’s proved that today.
“It’s not easy to win in Western Australia, I just think I’ve got the right horse for the right time because this horse is a bit of a warrior, he never shows you that much at home but when he gets into the thick of the fight, he just keeps giving.’’
Corumbene’s Anthony Altomonte added: “That was terrific, he’s such a good horse.
“I wasn’t sure he could do it twice in a row but he did it quite easily in the end.
“He’s now well and truly right up there with the likes of Sebring and Southern Legend as our highest earners and he’s certainly not finished yet.’’
At Randwick today grand sprinter Mazu (Maurice) relished the wet going to grind out a tough win in the G3 Hall Mark Stakes.
It was the eighth win of the Joe Pride-trained Mazu’s career but also his first since taking out the G1 Doomben 10,000 almost two years ago.
Today’s win took Mazu’s prizemoney earnings to a staggerring $7.9m – a phenomenal result for his owners Triple Crown, who purchased him for just $180,000 at the Classic Yearling Sale out of the draft of his breeder Parsons Creek.
“He’s been an amazing horse and taken the owners on an incredible journey,’’ Triple Crown’s Chris Ward said.
“He’s a Group 1 winner and has won almost $8m, he’s spent most of his life racing in Group company against the very best and we’re very proud of what he’s done.
“He’s been running really well most of the time but without much luck, maybe a touch below his best but great to see him bounce back today. It was a nice heavy track which we know he relishes.
“He’ll head up to Brisbane now, he’s always done well up there in the past so I see no reason to suggest he won’t do well up there again.’’
In Adelaide today Material Dreams (Lean Mean Machine) scored a valuable first black type success when winning the Listed Nitschke Stakes at Morphettville.
The 3YO Nick Ryan-trained filly is building an imposing career record, with today’s win her fifth from just 10 starts.
The Rob Dunnett-bred Material Dreams is a $55,000 Premier Yearling Sale buy for Greg Lewis from the Collingrove Stud draft.
And in New Zealand the 9YO Green Luck (Street Cry) turned back the clock to win the G3 Canterbury Gold Cup at Riccarton Park.
It was a 10th career win – and first black type victory – for the Stephanie Faulkner-trained Green Luck, who was having his 59th start.
Magus Equine’s Willie Leung bought Green Luck out of the Yarraman Park draft at the 2016 Easter Yearling Sale for $300,000.
Today’s win took his career earnings past $1.7m.
The next chance to purchase a quality yearling comes tomorrow at the Gold Yearling Sale at Oaklands.
Since the 2018 Gold Sale, the average earnings per runner has been more than triple the sale average and this year’s catalogue features progeny of 53 different sires.
The sale begins at midday.
