Inglis Sires runner up Odyssey Moon will get his chance to record his first Group 1 win after drawing a midfield barrier in the Group 1 $400,000 Moet & Chandon Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Odyssey Moon drew barrier five in the Champagne Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
Odyssey Moon draw barrier five in the nine horse field of two year olds and trainer Rodney Northam is confident he will handle the step up to the 1600m after running second to Pride Of Dubai in the Group 1 $1m Inglis Sires (1400m) at Randwick on April 6 on the first day of ‘The Championships’.
“He has come through it great, he is a tough horse,” Northam told Racing Ahead.
“He will enjoy the step-up to the mile.
“His full sister was a winner at a mile and she didn’t win a race until she got to a mile.
“He is more your staying type of Snitzel and he is not the jump and run sort of Snitzel, he is more in the mould of the ones that get over a bit of ground.”
Big Carnival jockey Damien Oliver was aboard the Snitzel colt in the Sires and will stick with him in the Champagne Stakes.
The Peter Moody trained Pasadena Girl has drawn next to Odyssey Moon at four with Hugh Bowman taking over from Vlad Duric.
Moody is also confident that Pasadena Girl will run out a strong 1600m following her fourth in the Inglis Sires.
“The 1600m will be ideal for her,’’ Moody said.
“She has done everything right since the Sires.”
Jockey Kerrin McEvoy will no doubt use Takedown’s early speed to cross from the outside barrier and try to repeat his last start tactics when the pair led all of the way to win the Group 3 $150,000 The Schweppervescence (1400m) at Rosehill on March 28.
The Gary Moore trained Takedown has continued to improve all the way through his Autumn campaign and will be chasing his fourth win on the trot after winning his maiden over 1100m at Hawkesbury on February 26 followed by his victory in the Group 3 $275,000 Seppelt Black Opal Stakes (1200m) at Canberra on March 8 before his Rosehill win.
Tarquin from the John O’Shea stable has drawn handy at barrier three with James McDonald in the saddle again and Tommy Berry takes over from Bowman on The Barrister who will jump from gate seven.
The Jason Warren trained The Barrister is another who is improving with every run and is chasing a hat trick after winning over 1500m at Mornington on March 28 before leading all of the way to win the Listed $150,000 Adina Apartment Hotels Fernhill Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on April 11, Day Two of ‘The Championships’.
Street Rapper from the Gai Waterhouse stable has drawn gate two with Blake Shinn on board, Fernhill Handicap third placegetter Reckless Russell has the inside gate with Jim Cassidy, Rhode Assassin came up with eight with Jason Collett in the saddle and Mine Two will jump from gate six.
