Overpass to enter Ascot sprinting immortality with victory in Quokka, making him three-time and only champ

Flashy bay Overpass is on the brink of Ascot sprinting immortality, lining up a dominant favourite to be a three-time and only ever winner of the $5 million Kia Quokka (1200m) this Saturday. Since the Quokka’s inception in 2023, the Sydney-sider has steamrolled top local and interstate rivals to capture the crown. It’s led ace trainer Bjorn Baker to ponder, is his now six-year-old better than ever? “It’s a tough question because he’s been so consistent throughout his career; he’s been a marvellous horse,” Baker said. “He’s a horse that every trainer and owner dreams of, and I don’t say that lightly. I say that because he’s been so consistent over such a long time. “He was a good two-year-old, three-year-old, four-year-old, five-year-old and maybe a better six-year-old. His run in the T J Smith was outstanding and I think he’s recovered really well. “He seems to have settled in well here as we’d expect because he’s done it so many times and just followed the same pattern. “His work on Tuesday was as good, if not slightly better than ever. He looks really well. We’re very, very happy with him and I think if he’s a better horse, we go in confident.” It’s easily argued that the $10 million earner is in the form of his life, running Briasa to a half head in that T J Smith after leading until late last start. It appears likely that he will find the front again and dictate his own tempo, meaning punters have piled into the $2.05 TABtouch hotpot. “The firm track is definitely a help. He likes fast tracks, he’s got a high cruising speed, he’s able to take advantage of it. Particularly the layout of Ascot definitely suits and it’s a tough 1200m, but it does suit him,” Baker said. “He’s a little underrated because he always competes against the best horses in Australia. You go back and he’s competed against Nature Strip, been in a couple of Everests, won the Everest consolation last year, coming out of the T J Smith. “He’s a great horse and probably even a little bit underrated by myself and my team.” Baker and his operation have experienced a whirlwind 2024-25 season, sitting third on the New South Wales trainer premiership and second on the metropolitan table, both behind Chris Waller. “I think from the first time we won The Quokka two years ago, we’ve just had an amazing run and had some really good horses come out of the woodwork,” he said. “I’ve been able to concentrate more on better horses because I’ve got such a good team, and we’ve probably had a fair bit of luck as well. “It’s been a remarkable eight months this season overall, so hopefully it can continue another 24 hours.”