Trainer Bjorn Baker will send the five-year-old gelding Overpass out to defend his Quokka title at Ascot on Saturday … and he will also have a useful back-up in the form of Malkovich to support the stable cause.
Overpass, a son of Golden Slipper winner Vancouver who already has $5.6 million banked in prize-money, has raced four times since his win in the inaugural running of the Quokka last year, firstly finishing second in both the Doomben 10 000 (behind Giga Kick) and in The Shorts (behind Private Eye) … finishing within a half-a-length of the winner on each occasion.
Runner-up finishes don’t come with more merit than that, getting so close to two such quality horses as those winners.
A month after The Shorts, Overpass lined up in $20 million The Everest, which proved too task for him on the day.
Two months later Overpass was back in Western Australia and back in winning form, taking out the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot, in the process claiming the seventh win of his career while keeping his unbeaten record at Ascot intact.
Overpass will race first-up on Saturday … he has finished in the first two places in five of his six previous first-up starts … and Josh Parr, who rode Overpass to victory in The Quokka will, once again be in the saddle.
For his part, Malkovich is certainly not there to make up the numbers.
An eight-time winner with $982 105 earned in prize-money, the six-year-old son of Choisir should be rock hard tackling The Quokka in his fifth start this preparation, and there was plenty to like in his recent runs which have included a third place in the Group 3 Southern Cross Stakes (behind Lady Laguna), a third place in the Group 2 Expressway (behind King Of Sparta) and, last time out, a runner-up finish in the Group 3 Star Kingdom Stakes (behind Bandi’s Boy).
Ben Melham will take over the ride here from Josh Parr, who would appear to have given his vote of confidence to Overpass.
At the time of writing, Overpass currently sits in second place at $4.60 with betting apps for the $5 million race … behind Amelia’s Jewel ($3.40), while Malkovich is at $26.