Odeum Sizzles to Thousand Guineas Success

After an unlucky run at her second start behind stablemate Night Raid in the Atlantic Jewel Stakes at Moonee Valley the rising talent scored a soft win at good odds in the listed Jim Moloney Stakes at Caulfield.

The win was the first at racing’s elite level for the training partnership of Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr.

“I am sure one day, by himself, he’ll have the skill and the intelligence and everything that’s needed to be a Group One trainer in his own right and he’s a great addition to the stable,” co-trainer Mick Price said of Kent.

Price told Racing.com that Odeum had enjoyed a great preparation heading into her Grand Final run today.

“She’s a filly that has bloomed this whole preparation. She should have finished a lot closer to Night Raid in the Atlantic Jewel – I’ve had to nurse Night Raid and this thing has just bloomed and bloomed.”

“I haven’t overworked her and she looked fantastic in the mounting yard. I’m just pleased for Michael Walker.”

“I’d have to say a big congratulations to (managing owner) Sheamus Mills.”

Mills, a leading Victorian based bloodstock agent, purchased Odeum for $420,000 from the draft of Newhaven Park at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

“We sat in that ‘dungy old’ office 20 years ago and have been working together for years and years and years,” Price said of Mills.

“He’s been putting up with me, dragging him in here on Saturday morning to clock horses. It’s great now that he’s landed on a Group One filly. He does a lot of hard work and he’s a smart man.”

Winning rider Michael Walker said he went into the Guineas bubbling with confidence.

“I’ve never been this confident going into a Group One,” Walker noted. “I really thought she could win today and she did.”

“I’m very fortunate that Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr are huge supporters of mine.”

“I’d just like to thank Sheamus Mills and all his staff, his team and his owners for this opportunity. I’ve ridden a few winners for this owner and our first Group One together. Hope it’s the first of many.”

Odeum continues the incredible run for the now Arrowfield Stud based sire sensation Written Tycoon who like her latest Group One winner was a Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase.

The filly is one of two winners, from three to race, for the well related and stakes performed Red Ransom mare Movie.

A daughter of the stakes winning mare Strawberry Storm, Movie earned black type with a placing in the Ken Russell Memorial Classic at the Gold Coast before retiring to stud.

Already at stud Movie has produced the Gold Coast Yearling Sale graduate Goodfella – a stakes winner and earner of over $1.1 million.