Parr marvels at Overpass' WA record

racing.com

Overpass is yet to be beaten in Western Australia and his jockey Josh Parr is determined to continue that winning run when he rides the Bjorn Baker-trained sprinter in this year's edition of The Quokka at Ascot.

In 2023 and 2024 Overpass travelled over from Sydney to win the first two renewals of lucrative slot race the Quokka and the six-year-old is favourite in early markets to do likewise in Saturday week's 1200-metre feature.

Along with those two victories in The Quokka, Overpass has also won the past two editions of the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot.

"He's undefeated there, it's quite amazing," Parr said.

"I guess he's created somewhat of a legacy there now and I'm pretty keen to keep that intact for him.

"We go there in really good shape. We should get track conditions to suit again and, looking at the field, I'd say he will be a deserved favourite and I'm going in there with confidence."

Overpass showed he has returned in good form this autumn, finishing a close second to Briasa in the G1 T.J. Smith Stakes at Randwick first-up on April 5, and Parr said it was a fantastic return.

"I think he performed as well as he ever has," Parr said.

"It was just disappointing that we lost, I guess, but we were beaten by a very talented horse who had a soft run on the back of the speed.

"Overpass showed great fight in the last section of the race to nearly pull it off, but it was a really good return."

Parr has ridden Overpass in eight of his 10 career victories, which includes a Sydney Stakes on The Everest undercard last spring at Randwick and an Inglis Sprint at Flemington to go along with the four big-race successes in Perth, which has earned the gelding top billing in regards to the rider's favourite horses.

"Obviously we've had so much success, and when you're travelling and winning high-pressure races and high-prizemoney races, you do develop a bond with them. I certainly have with him," Parr said.

"He's actually an easy horse for a jockey to ride, so it makes my job easier."