Odessa in a breeze

Quality filly Odessa had little more than a track gallop in an easy maiden win on the Sportsbet Ballarat Synthetic on Monday, August 11.

A red hot $1.24 favourite, the Tony & Calvin McEvoy-trained three-year-old filly raced away in the home straight to win the Porter Plant 3YO Maiden (1000m).

Jockey Harry Coffey had the filly away beautifully from gate one to hold the inside despite pressure in the early stages.

On straightening, Odessa bounded away to win by 3-3/4 lengths from Gisella ($26) with Panelli ($21), 2-1/4 lengths away third.

The trainers have always had a good opinion of the daughter of Zoustar and ran her in black type races in her first two starts as a two-year-old.

Trainer Calvin McEvoy considers Odessa has a good career ahead.

“I was pleased with that filly,” McEvoy said.

“We’ve always liked her and threw her in the deep end in her two-year-old career. She was not quite strong enough to produce the goods.

“She has got a nice pedigree and that was a good win today as she got pressured early.

“I think Odessa will improve from the run.

“Thanks to Nige, ‘Mitho’ and Ryan, the team, I remember being at Rosemont and looking through the paddocks at some young horses and this filly caught my eye.

“I said I would like to train her and thankfully they obliged.

“She is a filly I think that can get to a good level but whether it is this time, or next time, we will have to wait and see.”

Winning jockey Harry Coffey said Odessa was a naturally fast filly.

“We wanted to keep it pretty simple,” Coffey said.

“Gate one and jumping well helped with that.

“Rolled along, absorbed pressure and kicked off that proving too good.

“She has been in a lot better races than today and hopefully she gets confidence from that.

“She would have enjoyed that and hopefully she can measure up in stronger company.

“She has always been a bit smaller than her other competitors, but she has more zip than most of them.

“Maybe Odessa will be better when ridden with a sit, but she is fast and knows her job, that is all you can ask.”