The Quokka 2025 betting preview & tips | Saturday, April 26

The third edition of The Quokka will be held at Ascot on Saturday afternoon, where 13 runners will compete over 1200m for the lion’s share of the massive $5,000,000 prize pool. The Bjorn Baker-trained Overpass has made this race his own in the first two years, claiming a narrow victory in 2024 before dominating his rivals last year.

With a number of runners competing in The Quokka for the first time, it will be up to some of Western Australia’s up-and-coming sprinters to try and take the crown. Can Overpass complete a hat-trick of Quokka victories, or will another horse stand up and take his title from him, announcing themself as the best sprinter in the west?

2025 The Quokka odds

Following his brave second-place finish in the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes first-up, defending champion Overpass has opened as the +140 favourite with horse racing bookmakers. Coming out of the same race, Headwall sits on the second line of betting at +400 ahead of Western Empire (+700) and Front Page (+800), who round out the runners under +900.

Western Australian sprinters, Jokers Grin (+900), West Star (+1200) and Generosity (+2500) are rated double-figure chances with ; however, they will take on open weight-for-age company for just the second time in their short careers.

2025 The Quokka speed map

After drawing wide barriers, there is no doubt that Overpass and Front Page will cross the field and find the front to lead the 2025 Quokka field. West Star and Crocetti like to race on speed, and from barriers seven and nine, they will push forward and attempt to settle behind the leaders.

Considering there are multiple roughies in this years contest, it is likely that one of Brave Spirit or Magnificent Andy will also settle closer to the speed and attempt to cause some trouble with some of the market fancies. Headwall, The Boss Lady and Generosity will land in positions worse than midfield and appreciate a strong tempo throughout the 1200m.

Continue reading for HorseBetting’s top selections and $100 betting strategy for the 2025 Quokka.

The Quokka 2025 preview & form

It is hard to make a case as to why Overpass can’t win his third straight Quokka in 2025. However, at +140 he is well found and we will only be backing him to make sure that we don’t lose on the race if the Bjorn Baker-trained gelding runs his rivals ragged once again.

Outside of the obvious top hope, West Star is a horse on the rise in Western Australia, and the Simon Miller-trained gelding couldn’t have been more impressive when cruising to victory over 1200m first-up. The lone three-year-old in this year’s Quokka will gain the services of Tim Clark for his stiffest test, but if Clark can find the one-one position from barrier nine, West Star can claim victory at a nice price with .

Headwall and The Boss Lady have been going well this preparation, but they will settle back in the field and look to run on in the final 400m. Both of these runners will be giving some top line sprinters a lot of ground turning for home, but look for them flashing home down the outside to claim a place.

The Quokka 2025 selections & best bets

• 1
  

  OVERPASS

• 13
  

  WEST STAR

• 6
  

  HEADWALL

• 11
  

  THE BOSS LADY

2025 The Quokka Final Field

1. Overpass (10)

• T: Bjorn Baker
• J: Joshua Parr
• W: 58.5kg
• Age: 6
• Colour: Bay
• Sex: Gelding
• Sire: Vancouver
• Dam: Walkway

+140
-285.71

2. Front Page (11)

• T: Matthew Dale
• J: Tyler Schiller
• W: 58.5kg
• Age: 8
• Colour: Chestnut
• Sex: Gelding
• Sire: Magnus
• Dam: Stacey Lee

+800
+200

3. Western Empire (6)

• T: Grant & Alana Williams
• J: William Pike
• W: 58.5kg
• Age: 7
• Colour: Bay
• Sex: Gelding
• Sire: Iffraaj
• Dam: Western Jewel

+700
+175

4. Crocetti (7)

• T: Danny Walker & Arron Tata
• J: Craig Williams
• W: 58.5kg
• Age: 4
• Colour: Chestnut
• Sex: Gelding
• Sire: Zacinto
• Dam: Gracehill

+2000
+500

5. Magnificent Andy (1)

• T: Stephen Miller
• J: Brad Parnham
• W: 58.5kg
• Age: 6
• Colour: Chestnut
• Sex: Gelding
• Sire: Magnus
• Dam: Yaloginda

+5000
+1250

6. Headwall (8)

• T: Matthew Smith
• J: Zac Lloyd
• W: 58.5kg
• Age: 5
• Colour: Bay
• Sex: Gelding
• Sire: Dream Ahead
• Dam: Positive Quest

+400
+100

7. Triple Missile (12)

• T: Donna Riordan
• J: Joseph Azzopardi
• W: 58.5kg
• Age: 7
• Colour: Bay
• Sex: Gelding
• Sire: Smart Missile
• Dam: Triple Latte

+5000
+1250

8. Rope Them In (5)

• T: Steve Wolfe
• J: Shaun McGruddy
• W: 58.5kg
• Age: 4
• Colour: Brown
• Sex: Gelding
• Sire: Playing God
• Dam: Lead Rope

+2000
+500

9. Jokers Grin (13)

• T: Bernie Miller
• J: Patrick Carbery
• W: 58.5kg
• Age: 4
• Colour: Bay or Brown
• Sex: Gelding
• Sire: Maschino
• Dam: Walk in Beauty

+900
+225

10. Brave Spirit (3)

• T: Steve Wolfe
• J: Jarrad Noske
• W: 58.5kg
• Age: 4
• Colour: Brown
• Sex: Gelding
• Sire: Brave Smash
• Dam: Miss Shanghai

+10000
+2500

11. The Boss Lady (2)

• T: Michael Lane
• J: Billy Egan
• W: 56.5kg
• Age: 4
• Colour: Chestnut
• Sex: Mare
• Sire: Street Boss
• Dam: Top of the Class

+1400
+350

12. Generosity (4)

• T: Simon A Miller
• J: Lucy Fiore
• W: 56.5kg
• Age: 4
• Colour: Brown
• Sex: Mare
• Sire: Divine Prophet
• Dam: Orabelle

+2500
+625

13. West Star (9)

• T: Simon A Miller
• J: Tim Clark
• W: 56.5kg
• Age: 3
• Colour: Bay
• Sex: Gelding
• Sire: Playing God
• Dam: Jester Derriere

+1200
+300

14e. Comfort Me (0)

• T: Rhys Radford
• J:
• W: 58.5kg
• Age: 8
• Colour: Brown
• Sex: Gelding
• Sire: Playing God
• Dam: Southern Comfort

+5000
+1250

15e. Searchin’ Roc’s (0)

• T: Sharon Taylor
• J:
• W: 56.5kg
• Age: 6
• Colour: Bay
• Sex: Mare
• Sire: Awesome Rock
• Dam: Still Searchin’

+5000
+1250

16e. Snowdome (0)

• T: Neville Parnham
• J:
• W: 58.5kg
• Age: 5
• Colour: Grey-Brown
• Sex: Gelding
• Sire: Rommel
• Dam: Snow Pixie

+5000
+1250

17e. Saloon Bar (0)

• T: Daniel Morton
• J:
• W: 58.5kg
• Age: 5
• Colour: Bay or Brown
• Sex: Gelding
• Sire: Sessions
• Dam: Paris Cracker

+5000
+1250

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