A third placing in his hometown Cup helped Overdue secure the coveted Southern District Racing Association (SDRA) Horse of the Year title for 2016-17.
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Overdue was announced as the winner in front of a room full of industry participants at the SDRA Awards at Murrumbidgee Turf Club on Wednesday night.
Overdue is trained by Kym Davison at Albury and beat a host of quality racehorses to win the title for the first time.
SDRA’s first Highway Handicap winner Itsa Fait Accompli, trained by David Blundell at Gundagai, won 3YO of the Year.
Wagga trainer Trevor Sutherland’s two-year-old Sweettalkingwilly was named SDRA 2YO of the Year.
Overdue just had the one preparation for the season, but it resulted in feature wins at Wagga and Albury before going on to run third in the $180,000 listed Albury Gold Cup (2000m).
Overdue finished two votes ahead of Wagga sprinter Man Of Peace to win the award, while Albury stayer Lautaro came in third place.
The win caught Davison by surprise.
“It’s taken me a little bit by surprise but I’m very grateful,” Davison told the awards by telephone.
“It always takes him about three runs to get going but then he came out and won the Tom Patton Cup and managed to hold that form for a six-week period, culminating in the Albury Gold Cup.”
Overdue is a six-year-old gelding by Clangalang out of Davison’s good mare Overture.
Overture won five races for Davison and connections before injury struck when running a good second at Caulfield.
Overdue raced nine times in 2016-17 for two wins and two minor placings.
He won the $23,000 Tom Patton Handicap (1800m) at Wagga, and the $40,000 Albury Mile (1600m) on Country Championship heat day at Albury.
Five days later, he ran the race of his life when third behind Green Sweet in the Albury Gold Cup.
Overdue ran an eye-catching fourth in the Country Classic (2000m) at Rosehill last Saturday and will be freshened up and aimed at the Ted Ryder Cup (1600m) at Wagga next month.
Meantime, Itsa Fait Accompli capped off a top season by being named SDRA’s 3YO of the Year.
Itsa Fait Accompli won a Highway Handicap in July and was third in the $80,000 MTC Guineas on Wagga Gold Cup day.
Blundell hopes Itsa Fait Accompli will develop into a potential Wagga Gold Cup candidate.
Sweettalkingwilly edged out Plenary to win the 2YO title.
Sweettalkingwilly won two races at Wagga and Gundagai in the space of a week, while also running two placings behind the smart Up Trumpz.
