A well bred Zoustar filly carrying the Rosemont Stud colours was a hot favourite at Ballarat on Monday and duly won like the good thing her price suggested.
Trained by Tony and Calvin McEvoy and ridden by Harry Coffey, Odessa was a close second when resuming from a spell last month following two initial starts in stakes company when she finished fifth on both occasions not beaten far.
Odessa strode clear turning for home and scored a soft three and a half length win in the 1000m maiden which will give the filly a great confidence boost.
“She's a filly we've always liked and we threw her in the deep end in her two-year-old career and she wasn't quite strong enough to produce the goods,” said Calvin McEvoy.
“She's got a lovely pedigree and that was a nice win. She didn't get pressured and you know, I think she'll really improve from it.
“Id’ like to thank Nige, Mitho and Ryan, all the team (Rosemont) there. I remember being at Rosemont and looking through the paddocks of some young horses.
“I saw filly and she caught my eye straight away, so I said to them, I'd like to train her, and thankfully they obliged.
“She is a filly that I think can get to a good level, but whether it's this time or next time, that remains to be seen.”
Bred and retained to race by Rosemont Stud, Odessa is the first foal of Group III winning Epaulette mare Aryaaf, who was bought by Rosemont for $800,000 at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale from the Shadwell Stud Dispersal.
Rosemont have cornered this female family as at the same sale in 2021 they also purchased Aryaaaf’s Group III winning three-quarter sister Khulaasa for $1.35 million and her dam Bulbula also for $1.35million.
They also stand a stallion from the family in Group II winner Doull, who is a half-brother by Snitzel to Aryaaf from Bulbula.
There is plenty to come in the pipeline for this family with Khulaasa and Aryaaf both producing foals by Siyouni last spring before returning to Australia in foal to Too Darn Hot (GB), while Bulbula had a filly by Starspangledbanner last year and was then given the season off.
