Disappointing when trailing the field home behind Decision Time at Flemington, the enigmatic Odyssey Moon broke through for a belated maiden Group win in Saturday's $150,000 Group III Standish Handicap (1200m) at Flemington.
The handsome son of Snitzel looked to have the world at his feet at two when winning the Inglis Nursery (RL) and placing in the Group I ATC Sires' Produce Stakes, Group II Skyline Stakes and Group II Pago Pago Stakes.
He won two of his 12 starts at three but
The Standish was his 16th start in black-type races, placing in eight of those.
Ridden by Noel Callow for trainer Robert Smerdon, Odyssey Moon came down the grandstand side. Always in a forward position he fought on strongly to defeat South Australian visitor Cavaloce (Testa Rossa) by a short-head with Inspector (California Dane) a long-neck back in third. (photo Darryl Sherer).
Smerdon said it was an important win for Odyssey Moon's future.
"He's Group 1 placed, he's run well at the highest level a lot of times without winning a Group race.
"He's still an entire and he's a lovely horse with a bit of pedigree and we are hopeful he will get an opportunity at stud, so he needed to win a race like this."
Bred by Arrowfield Group Pty Ltd and Jungle Pocket Pty Ltd, Odyssey Moon carries the colours of Belinda Bateman.
He was purchased by James Harron Bloodstock for $120,000 at the Inglis Ready To Run sale after having been sold for a bargain $25,000 from the Arrowfield draft at the2014 Inglis Classic Yearling sale.
The son of Snitzel is the third winner from as many to race for the imported Arch mare Run To The Moon, who did her racing in Japan.
A half-sister to the outstanding mare Jostle (Brocco) who numbered wins in the Grade 1 Alabama Stakes, Grade 1 Belmont Coaching Club American Oaks and Grade II Black-Eyed Susan Stakes, among her eight wins, Run To The Moon was purchased by Katsumi Yoshida for $US180,000 at the 2002 Keeneland September Yearling sale.
She had a disastrous start to her stud career having missed to Admire Vega in Japan then having dead foals by Not a Single Doubt, Flying Spur and Hussonet (USA).
Little wonder Mark
Her fortunes seemed to have turned around in recent years.
Now in the ownership of Aquis Farm, she had a Starcraft colt in 2014 and a
Snitzel has started 2017 where he finished off 2016.
Le Cordon Bleu ended the year on a high for Snitzel by winning the Listed Canterbury Classic before welcoming in the New Year in with Odyssey Moon whose win came forty minutes after 3yo colt
Get ready for some fireworks with 51 Snitzel's catalogued for the Magic Millions Gold Coast, 10 lots at the Inglis Classic and 13 catalogued for the Inglis Premier Yearling sale.
