A field of 13 well-performed fillies went to the post for Saturday’s Group 1 Schweppes Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield where the progressive Written Tycoon filly Odeum put them to the sword at just her fourth start.
Given a positive ride by Michael Walker, Odeum enjoyed the run of the race, third on the fence before Walker presented the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained filly three-wide on the turn and it was a matter of how far from there.
Coming off a win in the Listed Jim Maloney Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield at her most recent start, Odeum kept up a strong gallop to defeat the beautifully bred Fastnet Rock filly Personal by one and three-quarter lengths with a half-neck back to the Not A Single Doubt filly Instant Celebrity who lost her unbeaten record with an honourable third ahead of another South Australian, Ecumenical (Zebedee) in fourth.
“I was never so confident going into a Group 1, I really thought she would win today,” Walker said.
“I’ve been struggling to get rides at the moment, for what reason I don’t know, I’m riding good, I’ll just keep working hard.
“I have to thank Sheamus Mills of Sheamus Mills Bloodstock, his team and his owners for the opportunity. Our first win together and I hope the first of many.
Odeum is the first Group 1 winner for Mick Price since he teamed up with Michael Kent Jnr.
“She is a filly that has just bloomed the whole preparation,” Price said.
“I haven’t overworked her and I thought she looked fantastic in the mounting yard.
“I’m very pleased for Michael Walker and a big congratulation to Sheamus Mills. We sat in that dungy old office there twenty years ago for years and years and I dragged hin in on Saturday mornings to clock horses. His lobbed on a Group 1 filly, he does a lot of hard work and is a smart man.”
Bred by Newhaven Park and part of their draft at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Odeum was knocked down to Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA) for $420,000.
A half-sister to the Listed ATC Brian Crowley Stakes Goodfella, she is the second stakes-winner from three to race out of the stakes-placed Red Ransom (USA) mare Movie a daughter of the Listed AJC Keith Mackay Hcp winner strawberry Storm from the family of stakes-winner Danroad, Newtown Jet, Strawberry Boy and Tippitaka.
Movie’s 2yo I Am invincible colt made $400,000 to the bid of Belmont Bloodstock P/L (FBAA) at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
After foaling a filly by Zoustar last spring, Movie was bred back to the high-profile Widden stallion again.
Odeum becomes the 11th Group 1 winner for Written Tycoon who makes his Arrowfield stud debut this season after loyal service at Woodside Park.
