The Odyssey was well beaten in Queensland’s richest two-year-old race at the Gold Coast but has a wonderful chance to atone after a win at Doomben.
The Odyssey ($2.35) stuck with his own age group after trainer Kelly Schweida seriously considered taking on older horses on Saturday.
After getting away with a slow pace in front he coasted home by 2-1/2 lengths to Ready To Roam ($2.90) with 1-3/4 lengths to Xanthus ($4.60) in the $125,000 The Emerald Jewel Prelude (1200m).
All three placegetters are by top young first season sire Better Than Ready.
Schweida said The Odyssey needed to run to be ready for the $500,000 Aquis Jewel at the Gold Coast on March 16.
At his previous start he hit the lead at the top of the straight but tired to finish near last in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic.
Schweida believes the track was too hard for The Odyssey in the Millions and gave him a let up before bringing him back to get ready for the Jewel.
“The way the lead-up races have fallen haven’t suited The Odyssey and I was a bit worried about 1200m first up today,” Schweida said.
“But the two-year-old field is smaller than I expected and that is a help. He got an easy lead and he did look a weight certainty at the set weights as he would have had 59 kgs instead of 56.5 kgs today.”
“You always worry when a horse is first up but hopefully he had an easy run which should help him in two weeks time.”
Trainer Tony Gollan will press on with Jewel plans for Ready Roam who he believed had his chance on Saturday.
Xanthus had no luck when trapped three deep and trainer Matt Dunn hopes he has enough prize money to make the Jewel field.