Can Overpass make it three in The Quokka?

Cover image courtesy of Western Racepix

The Quokka, worth $5 million, has only been run for two years, and in both 2023 and 2024, Overpass (Vancouver) won and Amelia’s Jewel (Siyouni {Fr}) ran second. In 2023, Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai) was third, and last year Oscar’s Fortune (Rich Enuff) finished in third.

With Amelia’s Jewel retired, the quinella is guaranteed to be different in 2025, but will it be rinse and repeat for Overpass? The only parallel in history is Redzel (Snitzel) who won the first two editions of Sydney’s slot race, The Everest, then ran eighth in his attempt at a third.

A different pathway this year for Overpass

Dual winner Overpass has taken a slightly different path this year. In 2023 and 2024 he came into the race fresh, but this year, he ran first-up in the G1 TJ Smith Stakes where he was second to Briasa (Smart Missile) on April 5.

“He’s in great order. He galloped well yesterday, and he loves it in the west. As opposed to other horses travelling there, he has adapted well to the heat and thrives in it. He has the same routine as at home, but does go to the beach a bit more than here, which he loves,” said Bjorn Baker’s Racing Manager Luke Hilton.

When asked about the draw (10 of 13), Hilton wasn’t fussed; “He won the Winterbottom from barrier 10 last year and he has a forward racing pattern, so the draw allows him to roll forward. We hope he can make it three in a row, he’s in perfect condition and the field isn’t as strong as last year, although there are a few good ones in there.”

That Overpass loves the west is something of an understatement. Four of his 10 wins have come in Perth – and he’s only had four starts in Perth – so his record in Western Australia is impressive as an unbeaten horse in that region.

“He’s done a good job here too. He was second in the TJ Smith last start, and he won the Sydney Stakes (this spring).”

Overpass, a COVID Inglis Easter Yearling Sale graduate who cost Darby Racing and Will Johnson Bloodstock $75,000 from Corumbene Stud, showed plenty early, winning three of his six starts at two and running fourth in the G2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes.

At three, he was sixth in Home Affairs’ G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes, then won the G2 Expressway Stakes at his next start. Another win in the autumn, as well as knocking around for a few fifths and sixths in Group 1 sprints, he then ran second to Nature Strip (Nicconi) as a spring 4-year-old in the G2 Shorts Handicap.

He attempted The Everest that spring, running sixth, and after a couple of poor performances, he was given a let up before heading to Perth for the 2023 The Quokka. Coming into the race, having not raced for four months, he won, then headed to Brisbane where he ran second in the G1 Doomben Ten Thousand.

In the spring of 2023, Overpass ran second in the G2 Shorts (again), then had an ordinary run in The Everest, before he headed west to win the G1 Winterbottom Stakes at the start of December. Again, he was rested before The Quokka, coming into the race fresh for 2024 and making it two from two.

This season, he won the G3 Sydney Stakes first up, then the G1 Winterbottom Stakes, and was freshened again. But rather than head directly to The Quokka, this year he’s coming off a second place in the G1 TJ Smith Stakes.

Will the different pattern make a difference? Or does he need the extra run now he’s a 5-year-old gelding? We will find out on Saturday.

The Roma Cup as a formline

Four of the runners in The Quokka ran in the G3 Roma Cup last start with The Boss Lady (Street Boss {USA}) winning from Jokers Grin (Maschino) and Generosity (Divine Prophet). Rope Them In (Playing God) was disappointing in running seventh.

“She’s good. It’s a big jump in class, we’re in so we’ll have a go and she’s done really well this season,” said The Boss Lady’s trainer Michael Lane.

“It’s a big jump in class with Overpass in it, and others from east. I’m not disillusioned about the task ahead of her, and it’ll be a good test. We (WA) normally hold our own with our sprinters, so will be good to see (how the form holds up).”

The Boss Lady, a 4-year-old mare, has won 10 of her 17 starts including her last four in succession. Bred and raced by the Canal Enterprise Syndicate, she is one of 82 stakes winners for Street Boss (USA) and is the second foal of Top Of The Class (Star Witness) who won twice in WA and placed in both the Listed Jungle Mist Classic and Listed Jungle Dawn Classic. She has an unraced 3-year-old colt named Longway To The Top (Long Leaf) and a colt foal by Universal Ruler.

Rope Them In has been touted as a strong contender for The Quokka for most of the autumn, but a disappointing run in the G3 Roma Cup had him shift out in the betting. On Tuesday, jockey Shaun McGruddy was pleased with drawing five and told racingwa.com.au, “There were no underlying reasons for his run in the Roma Cup. The barrier draw will help because he’s not good enough to give them a head start and reel them in.

“The barrier makes all the difference and the 1200 metres suits him a bit better as well. He worked really well this morning (Tuesday) and Wolfey was happy with the barrier and happy with his work."

Group 1 form lines

With Overpass heading into The Quokka out of the TJ Smith, the horse who was third in that race, Headwall (Dream Ahead {USA}) is also over in Perth, and is the current second-favourite behind Overpass. Headwall has drawn eight.

“He’s great. He’s settled in well and pulled up nicely from his work on Tuesday, and seems happy,” said Headwall’s trainer Matthew Smith.

“I think the TJ form line is good. The track over there is a lot different to Randwick and probably suits Overpass better than us as we tend to get back a bit in the run, and it does favour horses on the speed. But we can’t change our pattern too much and I’m hoping he can run on. It’s important to stick to what works (for the horse).

“If you go back before Overpass, plenty of horses can run on from behind there, so we will wait and see what happens. The horse is fit and well, and that’s all we can do and a little bit of rain might help us too. Our bloke, this time in, has been fantastic.”

Headwall has had three starts this autumn, all in Group 1 company, for a fourth in the G1 Oakleigh Plate, second in the G1 Newmarket Handicap, and third in the G1 TJ Smith Stakes.

“Overpass was just beaten in the TJ, and he’s the one to beat. Hopefully, we’ll be running on strong in the finish.”

Headwall, a 5-year-old gelding, has won six of his 16 starts. A winner on debut as a July 2-year-old, he won three of his first four starts. He won the $300,000 The Warra to finish his spring, and this autumn, his step into Group 1 company have been his first runs in black type.

Not offered at auction, Headwall is by Dream Ahead (USA) sired 35 stakes winners (13 bred in Australia), including four Group 1 winners who were all European bred. Headwall is out of Positive Quest (Not A Single Doubt), who won twice a two, and whose first three foals are winners. She has an unraced 2-year-old filly Flying Sarki (Flying Artie), a yearling colt by North Pacific and a colt foal by Artorius.

The other two runners with immediate Group 1 form are Front Page (Magnus), who comes into The Quokka off a second in the G1 Galaxy Handicap, and Crocetti (NZ) (Zacinto {GB}), who won New Zealand’s G1 Railway Handicap two starts ago.

"He got taken on in the Galaxy with a horse pressing on. He got carved up a bit in front and that horse ended up running last and he was very strong," Front Page's trainer Matthew Dale told racing.com on Wednesday.

"It's good formlines and it was probably an equal career-peak rating for him as an 8-year-old and just emphasises that he's in really good order. He's done nothing but please us since. We're expecting a bold showing."

Gallery: The Quokka 2025 Field