Trainer Rodney Northam has confirmed that Odyssey Moon will not wear blinkers when he contests the 2015 Caulfield Guineas this weekend.
Odyssey Moon has the chance to deliver trainer Rodney Northam a maiden Group 1 victory in the 2015 Caulfield Guineas this weekend. Photo by: Steve Hart
Northam opted to apply blinkers to Odyssey Moon in the Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) at Caulfield on September 26 and he hit the line strongly to finish a credible fifth, but the Scone-based trainer believes that the Snitzel colt overraced in the early stages of the race and he does notwant to the three-year-old to do the same over a mile in the Caulfield Guineas.
“I am very happy,” Northam told Racing Ahead.
“He raced really well, he got a bit keen around the turn and he overraced a little bit with the blinkers on.
“They will be coming back off to make sure that he runs the mile, but I was very happy with the way that he found the line and kept going through the line after the tough run that he had.
“It was a really good run and Steven was pretty impressed with him.”
Odyssey Moon started his 2015 Spring Racing Carnival campaign with an unlucky third behind Well Sprung and Danuki in the Listed McKenzie Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on August 22 and he produced a slightly flat performance in the Listed Pin And Win Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on September 12 before he had very little luck again in the Caulfield Guineas Prelude.
While Odyssey Moon is yet to record a race win this preparation, Northam has still been happy with each of his race starts this campaign and he believes that the talented colt is ready to peak fourth-up in the 2015 Caulfield Guineas.
“Everything is spot on, the plan was to give him two runs over 1400 to get him ready for a mile,” Northam said.
“Steven rode him in trackwork this morning and was really happy with him.
“He pulled up really well and we just need that good barrier today to help him get around Caulfield.”
Northam’s wish for an inside Caulfield Guineas barrier was not granted at the barrier draw this morning and the three-year-old is set to start from barrier 13 with Steven Arnold in the saddle.
Northam has previously recorded Group 3 victories with Myamira, Big Money and Rosa’s Spur, but he will be chasing his first win at Group 1 level when Odyssey Moon contests the Caulfield Guineas.
