Natalie’s on a Coast odyssey
BLUE Odyssey is still a maiden but a strong betting move ahead of the opening race at the Gold Coast this afternoon suggests that will quickly change.
Blue Odyssey opened at $2.80 with Ladbrokes when markets went live yesterday afternoon but that price did not last long and he was quickly crunched into $2.15.
He he has been easily the best-backed runner on the card and Ladbrokes stats show it is one of the biggest early moves they have seen at the Coast in some time.
Blue Odyssey made his racing debut with a flat fifthplace finish at the Sunshine Coast on March 8 before he produced an improve effort to finish second behind Gem Of Scotland over 900m at the Gold Coast March 23.
The Charge Forward colt could finish no better than fourth at the Sunshine Coast when he returned to the races on July 17, but punters clearly believe that he will go to another level.
Blue Odyssey’s trainer Natalie McCall had a strong finish to the 2018-2019 racing season, but is looking for a change of luck at the Gold Coast after having one winner and five second place finishes from her past 14 runners at the venue.
Another galloper that has been well-backed with Ladbrokes punters is Nothing Needed, who will return to the races in the Brooks Fillies and Mares Class 1 Handicap.
Nothing Needed has only recorded the one race win from her eight race starts but her strong record at the Gold Coast has clearly drawn the attention of punters.
She has been backed into $6 with Ladbrokes and she is now on the second line of betting behind Matthew Dunn-trained True Quality.