Overpass takes Everest barrier trial as audition continues

Trainer Bjorn Baker realises every time Overpass steps out that he is auditioning for a slot in his dream race, so winning a Thursday morning Canterbury barrier trial against two Everest winners and another sprinter confirmed for this year’s edition can only help.

Nature Strip, Classique Legend and Lost And Running rolled around Canterbury in the wake of Overpass to show that they are all on target for the $15million contest on October 15. The Shorts will be the next stop for all four.

Rachel King was once again positive on Overpass and went to the front with Nature Strip at his hindquarters and won the barrier trial as he liked running 55.49seconds for the 900 metres.

″⁣Rachel said he was relaxed and did it well, but now we have to show we can beat these horses on race day,″⁣ Baker said. ″⁣We are looking forward to The Shorts because that’s where it gets real.″⁣

Chris Waller was pleased to see reigning Everest champion Nature Strip open his lungs for the first time since his Royal Ascot win, although he was beaten 1 lengths.

″⁣He relaxed well and we will stick to the plan we made after Ascot and run in The Shorts, which is a month out from The Everest, which history tells us is the best program for him,″⁣ Waller said.

Classique Legend’s trainer Les Bridge admitted to nerves before the reappearance of the 2020 Everest winner for the first time in almost a year due to a tendon injury.
“He got a pass,” Bridge said. “Kerrin [McEvoy] was really happy with him, and he had blow after it as you would expect.

“The leg is all right and if I need it, there is a trial on the Tuesday before The Shorts, but he just needs those runs to get rid of the rust. He will be right.”

Lost And Running wasn’t asked to do too much on the soft ground by Hugh Bowman, but he worked through the line, five lengths from Overpass.

“Just what we wanted,” trainer John O’Shea said, which was the common theme to the morning.