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Get your Melbourne Cup kitThe Odyssey could earn crack at Group One feature
Paul Vettise • November 3rd, 2025 1:51 pm
The Odyssey will step up in grade in Tuesday's Gr.3 Elsdon Park Bonecrusher Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie | Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)
The Odyssey’s performance at Ellerslie on Melbourne Cup Day may result in a change to his immediate program.
The in-form son of Zacinto will step out of handicap company to run in the Gr.3 Elsdon Park Bonecrusher Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie on Tuesday.
The weight-for-age feature wasn’t initially on his radar, but two bold performances into his current preparation have encouraged trainers Ben and Ryan Foote to change tack.
The six-year-old followed up a resuming sprint third at Tauranga to carry 59kg to a last-start victory on the course over 1600 metres.
“He obviously likes Ellerslie, and he’s come through his first two races so well,” Ben Foote said.
“He was going to have to have another start before the Counties Cup (Gr.3, 2100m) anyway.”
He finished fourth in last season’s feature at Pukekohe before running third in the Gr.3 Waikato Cup (2400m).
“I guess if he shows he’s up to weight-for-age level then we may have to rethink the Cups’ races and think more of the Zabeel Classic (Gr.1, 2000m),” Foote said.
“If he can perform well against the likes of El Vencedor in particular, then it could sway us to go another way. We’ll just have to wait and see.
“I can’t fault him, he’s cleaning his feed up and he’s just so bright and happy, so we’ll have a throw at the stumps.
“He’s drawn barrier two so if he gets away from the gates, he won’t be doing it as hard as he does when he gets back in the field.”
The Odyssey has been well managed to fashion the tidy record of seven wins from 21 starts with regular partner Courtney Barnes to take the reins again on Tuesday.
“We’ve been patient with him and always knew he was going to get better as he got older, his mum won a Group One as a six-year-old,” Foote said.
The Odyssey’s dam Macavelli Miss produced a career high performance in later life to claim her sixth and final career victory in the Thorndon Mile (1600m) from Roger James’ stable.
“He’s always had the ability and he’s a lot sharper this time in, as Courtney said, he’s not hitting a flat spot in his races like he has done in previous preps,” Foote said.
The stable is also bullish about the chances of Keegan in the Almanzor – Proven Value Handicap (1500m).
The four-time winner drew attention to his prospects when an encouraging fifth at Taupo where he was making his first appearance since a winter campaign.
“He is very talented and an unusual character, last prep when he won at Wellington he was dropping out on the turn like he was going to run a mile last and then he decided to get going and won,” Foote said.
“He’s very laid back, and his work is probably the best I’ve ever seen, so I’m expecting another very good run.”
