‘I’ve seen weaker Group 1s’: Trainer Bjorn Baker expecting stiff test for Overpass in Saturday’s Group 3 Sydney Stakes

Baker is eyeing the $20 million TAB Everest with Stefi Magnetica but will hunt a lucrative consolation prize with her stablemate an hour before the race.

The Warwick Farm conditioner had been hoping to run Overpass in The Everest but was unable to get a deal over the line with slot holders and the gelding has been left as the first emergency.

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The Sydney Stakes will still be an immense challenge with six individual Group 1 winners set to line up in the sprint, headlined by last year’s The Everest victor Think About It.

Overpass, a dual Quokka winner, claimed his maiden Group 1 in the Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot last year.

The son of Vancouver has been kept fresh for his first up assignment where he reconnects with regular hoop Josh Parr.

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“I thought he was a super chance,” Baker said.

“It’s a tough race in its own right.

“I’ve seen a lot weaker Group 1 sprints recently than the Sydney Stakes on Saturday so that also shows you just how good The Everest is.

“The consolation is 18 horses and it is stacked, I think you could argue it’s one of the best sprinting fields in terms of depth that we’ve seen for a while.”

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Overpass, set to jump from barrier eight, is a $5 second elect for the Sydney Stakes with Ciaron Maher’s brilliant Manikato Stakes winner Southport Tycoon ($4.80) heading the betting.

Mazu ($6.50) and Think About It ($7.50) are the only other horses in single digits in a capacity field of 18 starters.

I Am Me won last year’s Sydney Stakes and will get her chance in this year’s The Everest after winning twice in the lead up.

Originally published as ‘I’ve seen weaker Group 1s’: Trainer Bjorn Baker expecting stiff test for Overpass in Saturday’s Group 3 Sydney Stakes