The Gr.3 TAB Counties Cup (2100m) and Gr.3 Skycity Hamilton Waikato Cup (2400m) are looming large on the horizon for The Odyssey after a dominant win in the Elsdon Park (2100m) at Ellerslie on Saturday.

Bred and raced by Gareth Downey and Mel Gamble, the Zacinto gelding emerged on the scene with four wins from seven starts last season including the inaugural $350,000 Remutaka Classic (2100m) at Trentham in January.

The early stages of The Odyssey’s 2024 spring campaign had been a story of strong finishes that were just slightly too late, running fourth at Ruakaka on August 17, third at Hastings on September 7 and fourth again at Matamata on October 2. The Hastings and Matamata runs both came from wide gates.

The Odyssey was drawn much better in gate three for Saturday’s $65,000 open handicap at Ellerslie, and jockey Courtney Barnes gave him a comfortable run in fifth along the rail.

Barnes angled the chestnut away from the fence with 500m remaining, and by the home turn, The Odyssey was looming ominously on the outside of the front-running My Maebelline Girl and Quality Time.

The Odyssey changed gears in the straight and quickly put the result beyond doubt, opening up a three-length winning margin over Arby and My Maebelline Girl.

Trained at Cambridge by Ben and Ryan Foote, The Odyssey has now had 13 starts for five wins, two placings and $289,170 in stakes.

“That was a good win today, we’re very happy with that,” Ben Foote said. “He finally drew a barrier, which has been quite rare for our stable lately. He’s been drawing bad barriers in his last couple and getting a long way back, which makes it a lot harder for him. The better draw made a big difference for him today and Courtney gave him a nice run.

“We’ll probably carry on towards races like the Counties Cup and Waikato Cup. I think those sorts of races will be nice targets for him this season.”

The Odyssey is one of six winners from only seven foals to race out of Downey and Gamble’s star mare Macavelli Miss, who herself won six races including the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m).

The best-performed of the Vettori mare’s progeny is Mac De Lago, who won the Gr.1 Gold Challenge (1600m) at Greyville in South Africa. Four-race winner Fleetwood Maca placed in the Gr.2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie, while Gaugin boasts seven wins, De Good Habit five and The Odyssey and Danish Rock four each.