Better Than Ready's The Odyssey Leads Home a 1-2-3 for the Locals in the Last On Magic Millions Race

Mark Smith - Saturday January 16

The locals went 1-2-3 in the $1m Racing Qld Magic Millions (1300m) to bring the curtain down on Magic Millions raceday at the Gold Coast.

In a driving finish, Stephanie Thornton guided the top-weight The Odyssey (Better Than Ready) to half-head win over the fast-finishing Stuttering (Love Conquers All) with Boomtown Lass (Spirit Of Boom) a neck back in third.

Big Payday for The Odyssey (Grant Courtney)

The first three are all by Queensland-based stallions and trained in Queensland.

Winning trainer Kelly Schweida The Odyssey is at his limit at 1300m.

“We would have liked him in an 1100m race with 57kgs, but it wasn’t to be. This looked to be a weaker race on paper. Not that there are any weak races when running for 1million dollars at 1300m with 59kgs he is at his outer limits,” Schweida said.

“She rode him a treat. They took him on so she box-seated and put him into the race. She will have a smile from ear to ear. I could almost see the smile when she was pulling up there.

“Better than Ready is a good sire. Desleigh Forster’s horse (Apache Chase, ran a great race (when fourth) in the 3yo Guineas but they will party pretty hard tonight.

I’m pretty stoked.”

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Thornton has developed a special bond with The Odyssey.

“I love the horse and it coldn’t be any more special than winning here today,” she said.

“He is a kids pony. I’ve said that from day one. You could put a 4kg claiming kid having their first ride and he would teach them everything they need to know.”

The Odyssey a $30,000 Magic Millions Yearling

Purchased by his trainer for $30,000 out of the Millbrook draft at the 2018 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, The Odyssey advances his record to  10 four thee from 25 starts with earnings of $1,702,300

The Odyssey is the third live foal and second winner for the Snitzel mare Jessica's Hope who died in January 2018.

Her final foal is a colt by Epaulette was consigned by Millbrook to the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale where he made $60,000 to the bid of Beamish Bloodstock.

On Friday, Schweida paid $175,000 for Lot 758, a yearling colt by Better Than Ready out of the Yarramalong Park draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

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Race Result - $1m Racing Qld M.M. (Rl) 1300m

Gold Coast Track: Good(4) Time: 1:16.53
1
The Odyssey
- 4h Better Than Ready (AUS) x Jessica's Hope (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: K M Schweida Rdr: Ms S Thornton 59
2
0.1
Stuttering
- 4g Love Conquers All (AUS) x Stutter (AUS) (Night Shift (USA))
Tnr: R L Heathcote Rdr: M R Du Plessis 54
3
0.4
Boomtown Lass
- 5m Spirit Of Boom (AUS) x Boomalicious (AUS) (Red Dazzler (AUS))
Tnr: Chris Anderson Rdr: M Mc Gillivray 55
4
0.5
Mishani Bullitt
- 6g Show A Heart (AUS) x Scarlet Tanager (AUS) (Red Dazzler (AUS))
Tnr: Troy Pascoe Rdr: Craig Williams 54
5
1.8
Tokoriki Lad
- 6g Falvelon (AUS) x Dantibes' Treasure (AUS) (Dantibes (AUS))
Tnr: T J Gollan Rdr: J Byrne 54
6
2.1
Boomnova
- 3f Spirit Of Boom (AUS) x Silva Nova (AUS) (Canadian Silver (CAN))
Tnr: Chris Munce Rdr: B El-Issa 54
7
2.3
Chapter And Verse
- 6g Rothesay (AUS) x McFly (AUS) (Perugino (USA))
Tnr: Desleigh Forster Rdr: N Rawiller 57
8
3.3
Colpo Di Tamburo
- 6g Drumbeats (AUS) x Anigma (GB) (Machiavellian (USA))
Tnr: L J Roche Rdr: R Fradd 54
9
4.1
Beaufort Park
- 5g Warhead (AUS) x Warlady (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: L D Kelly Rdr: Travis Wolfgram 54
10
4.3
The Fire Trap
- 5g Sizzling (AUS) x Rasteira (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: M J Dunn Rdr: B Avdulla 54
11
5.6
Jami Lady
- 5m Spirit Of Boom (AUS) x Bevico Girl (AUS) (Easy Rocking (AUS))
Tnr: S O'Dea & M Hoysted Rdr: Ben Thompson 55.5
12
6.9
In His Stride
- 8g Rothesay (AUS) x In Her Shoes (AUS) (Sequalo (AUS))
Tnr: R G Lipp Rdr: M Cahill 54
13
7.9
Xanthus
- 4g Better Than Ready (AUS) x Vis A Tergo (AUS) (Bradbury's Luck (AUS))
Tnr: M J Dunn Rdr: M J Dee 54
14
8.0
Yamazaki
- 5m Real Saga (AUS) x Wabeel (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: David Pfieffer Rdr: G Boss 54
15
8.8
River Racer
- 7m Hidden Dragon (AUS) x Royal Yangtze (AUS) (Royal Academy (USA))
Tnr: L G Ross Rdr: Taylor Marshall 54
16
9.0
Macewen
- 5g Rothesay (AUS) x Gogoreilly (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: T J Gollan Rdr: L Currie 55.5
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