Son of Better Than Ready to stand for $5,500.

Juvenile stakes winner The Odyssey (Better Than Ready) will stand his first season at stud at Telemon in 2022 for a fee of $5,500 (inc GST). 

Bought for $30,000 at the 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, The Odyssey has raced 34 times for ten wins and eight placings with his victories including the Phelan Ready Stakes (Listed, 1000m) at his third career start in December 2018. The son of Better Than Ready (More Than Ready) also placed a close second in the Gold Coast Guineas (Gr 3, 1200m) with his prize money totalling almost $1.75 million. 

"QTIS is, we believe, the leading incentive scheme in Australian racing," said Telemon principal Dan Fletcher. "We can think of no better candidate to target QTIS than the King of QTIS himself, The Odyssey.

"He's the horse that so many Queenslanders dream about," continued Fletcher.

"He was up and going in the first two-year-old races in October, he won in elite company before Christmas and went on to have an incredible career. He won the QTIS clean sweep winning both two and three year old Jewels and came back at four to win the $1M race on Magic Millions Classic day.

"He ran in Exhilarates Magic Millions 2YO Classic. I thought it was interesting to look at his form and see that he ended up defeating her when they met again at level weights as three-year-olds. He was certainly a high-quality horse that acted on all surfaces."

Fletcher believes The Odyssey answers the demand for an affordable horse that has the profile for breeders to tap into QTIS.

The Odyssey was trained by leading Queensland trainer Kelly Schweida, who's wife Vera was also in the ownership. 

"We're delighted to see The Odyssey get his chance at stud," said Schweida.

"He was a stable favourite from the very first time he came into work. He's very much in the mould of his father who I also trained and it's no coincidence we came home from Magic Millions with him as a yearling.

"The Odyssey was just as effective on rain affected going as he was on top of the ground and I haven't had an easier, better natured animal through my yard. He'll pass that onto his progeny and I'm really looking forward to getting his babies into our stables in years to come."