A brilliant trial and strong track work has swayed trainer Kelly Schweida to take on top company with The Odyssey in the Listed Gold Edition Plate at Eagle Farm.
Schweida had also accepted with the gelding in a Class Six race on Saturday but opted to keep The Odyssey in his own age group.
The Odyssey was voted Queensland’s best two-year-old for last season but was slightly disappointing at his first two runs back from a break.
He showed his true colours with a runaway win at Eagle Farm five weeks ago.
Since then The Odyssey has won a Doomben trial by 8-1/2 lengths in 57.46s, nearly a second faster than any other 1000m-heat on the morning.
The Odyssey has shown he has retained that form by working strongly on the Eagle Farm course proper on Tuesday morning.
Schweida said he had never doubted The Odyssey would get back to his best form.
“I said all along he was fat when he got back from a good spell and it has taken time to get him back,” Schweida said.
“He will need to be at his best on Saturday as it is a very good field with horses like Alligator Blood.
“I nominated him for the Class Six as well but that was only in case he drew very wide in the Gold Edition.
“He has got barrier one so he should get his chance.”
The Odyssey is a Magic Millions horse but Schweida is hedging his bets whether to run him at the carnival.
“The Gold Coast Guineas is at 1400 metres and the Millions QTIS race 1300 but that will put him right at his limit,” Schweida.
“One of his best wins was at the Gold Coast so we will see.”
Stable veteran Outraged will run in the Hamilton Hotel Handicap (1800m) on his way to the Magic Millions Trophy on January 11.
Outraged has run in the past three Trophy races finishing third in 2017.
“Why not run him again as he likes the Gold Coast and he should have won The Trophy two years ago,” Schweida said.
“I don’t think I have ever recovered because there was about $500,000 difference in prize money.”
“The 1800 metres will be too short on Saturday but he will be running on.”