Co-trainer Simon Zahra is bullish about Odeon’s chances in Saturday’s $500,000 2020 Ballarat Cup (2000m), with the camp targeting this race from a long way out.
At the back end of the spring, the 2000m event may be an afterthought for many of the bigger named runners in the field, but Odeon’s preparation has been geared towards peaking on Saturday in his grand final.
“He looks pretty well-weighted, he’s drawn to get a good run and three weeks in between runs is probably the key to him, so I wouldn’t swap him for any runner,” Zahra told racing.com.
“Half a million (prizemoney) probably invites a lot of people to hang on doesn’t it?
“It’s a good incentive for late carnival; obviously an afterthought for some, but it’s a race we have targeted.”
Odeon heads into Saturday’s contest in good form, just going down in both the Cranbourne Cup (2025m), and the Melbourne Cup Day Plate (1800m) behind the talented Purple Sector.
RESULT |
Purple Sector was crunched in the betting and he fought well to salute in a busy finish to the eighth event @FlemingtonVRC for @CWilliamsJockey and John Thompson 👏pic.twitter.com/pF6hnBUrKk
— RSN927am (@RSN927) November 3, 2020
The camp will however have to deal with the suspension of regular rider Jamie Kah, with Daniel Moor set to take the mount with some specific instructions.
“She has got the key to him a bit … but Daniel has been doing a lot of riding for us and he just does as he’s told,” Zahra said.
“Riding him conservative is always the better option because if he gets there too soon, he puts the flag up and thinks he’s done his job.”
Odeon is currently a $12 chance in the 2020 Ballarat Cup.
| Horse | Win | Place | ||
| 1 | So Si Bon (1)J: Damian Lane 62kg T: T Dabernig & B Hayes | $14.00 | $4.20 | Bet Now |
| 2 | Harlem (13)J: Craig Williams 61.5kg T: T Dabernig & B Hayes | $13.00 | $4.00 | Bet Now |
| 3 | Kings Will Dream (14)J: Michael Rodd 61.5kg T: C J Waller | $11.00 | $3.50 | Bet Now |
| 4 | Junipal (11)J: Kerrin Mcevoy 60kg T: C Maher & D Eustace | $5.50 | $2.15 | Bet Now |
| 5 | Al Galayel (10)J: Ben Melham 59.5kg T: C Maher & D Eustace | $11.00 | $3.50 | Bet Now |
| 6 | Kiwia (17)J: John Allen 59.5kg T: Archie Alexander | $26.00 | $7.00 | Bet Now |
| 7 | Pacodali (4)J: Dean Yendall 59kg T: Maddie Raymond | $14.00 | $4.20 | Bet Now |
| 8 | Inverloch (5)J: Daniel Stackhouse 57.5kg T: T Busuttin & N Young | $26.00 | $7.00 | Bet Now |
| 9 | Plein Ciel (3)J: Jamie Mott 56.5kg T: D T O’brien | $14.00 | $4.20 | Bet Now |
| 10 | Affair To Remember (9)J: Mark Zahra 56kg T: Dan O’sullivan | $5.50 | $2.15 | Bet Now |
| 11 | Odeon (6)J: Daniel Moor 56kg T: M Ellerton & S Zahra | $12.00 | $3.80 | Bet Now |
| 12 | Our Big Mike (2)J: Jordan Childs 56kg T: Brett Scott | $51.00 | $13.00 | Bet Now |
| 13 | Furrion (7)J: Luke Nolen 56kg T: T Dabernig & B Hayes | $51.00 | $13.00 | Bet Now |
| 14 | Game Keeper (8)J: Luke Currie 56kg T: T & C Mcevoy | $20.00 | $6.00 | Bet Now |
| 15 | Double You Tee (16)J: Billy Egan 56kg T: Patrick Payne | $17.00 | $5.00 | Bet Now |
| 16 | Power Scheme (20)J: Jye Mcneil 56kg T: T Dabernig & B Hayes | $14.00 | $4.20 | Bet Now |
| 17 | Irish Flame (19)J: Michael Walker 56kg T: Brett Scott | $18.00 | $5.50 | Bet Now |
| 18 | Mongolian Marshal (18)J: Zac Spain 56kg T: S P Gower | $26.00 | $7.50 | Bet Now |
| 19 | Knights Order (12)J: Michael Dee 56kg T: G Waterhouse & A Bott | $17.00 | $5.00 | Bet Now |
| 20 | Paradee (15)J: Damien Oliver 56kg T: D T O’brien | $9.00 | $3.00 | Bet Now |
