Odyssey Moon still in the betting despite wide barrier in Telegraph

Victorian sprinter Odyssey Moon is still at single digit odds in the betting despite drawing a wide barrier in the Group 1 NZ$250,000 JR & N Berkett Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham in New Zealand on Saturday.

Odyssey Moon, above, has drawn a horror barrier in the Telegraph at Trentham in New Zealand. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Odyssey Moon, above, has drawn a horror barrier in the Telegraph at Trentham in New Zealand. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Odyssey Moon came up with barrier nineteen in the original field of eighteen plus three emergencies but will come in three spots if all the reserves fail to gain a start.

Ladbrokes.com.au have the Robert Smerdon trained Odyssey Moon at $8 alongside of Luna Rossa from the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman stable.

At the top of the market order is the consistent Perfect Fit at $3.50 ahead of the equal top weight Start Wondering at $4.60 and the in-form First Serve at $6.

Smerdon is happy with the way Odyssey Moon has settled into his new surroundings at Cambridge and knows a win in the Group 1 Telegraph could enhance his stud value dramatically.

“We were really happy with him here,” Smerdon told Racing Victoria.

“He had a gallop at Sandown last Wednesday morning on the course proper, and got on the plane about 10 o’clock Wednesday night.

“It was a really good trip. It was about 10 hours door-to-door, which is good time. He was in New Zealand 8am Australian time.

“He went to Cambridge, and reports are he hasn’t missed a beat. The float from there to Wellington on Friday is about eight hours down there.

“A bit of travelling, but he hasn’t missed a beat and all feedback has been positive.

“I had him entered in the New Year’s Day sprint, but we stayed here and ran in the Standish. Having won that, James (Harron) thought, ‘It’s a Group 1 race, he’s an entire by Snitzel’, if he can win a race like that, it’s a big tick on his CV.

“There could be stud masters anywhere watching him, but mainly in New Zealand, I guess.”

Odyssey Moon raced against the best company during his two year old season with his best effort being a second to Pride Of Dubai in the Group 1 $1m Inglis Sires (1400m) at Randwick during the 2015 Sydney Autumn Carnival.

Odyssey Moon was having his second run back from a spell when he scored an upset win in the Group 3 $150,000 Standish Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on January 1.

Melbourne based jockey Noel Callow was aboard in the Standish Handicap and will be in the saddle again in the Telegraph.

The Telegraph favourite Perfect Fit is fitter for two runs from a spell and is coming off a last start second to Start Wondering in the Group 1 NZ$200,000 Railway Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie on January 1.

The Ken and Bev Kelso trained mare has drawn the rails with Michael Coleman retaining the ride while second favourite Start Wondering has drawn awkwardly at fourteen with Johnathon Parkes in the saddle again.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.