The Gassim Ghazali-trained Oddyssey, who had only three behind him as they turned for home, produced a fine turn of foot to sweep past the whole field in the home straight to win the Al Rayyan Mile at Al Rayyan Racecourse in Doha, Qatar on Saturday.
Owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Salman M Al-Thani, he was ridden by Maxime Guyon, a third victory for the jockey at this year’s Festival and capping a best-ever season for the Frenchman in Qatar.
“The pace was very fast after the start, but just before the last turn I wasn’t too far back and last time we did the same with a good turn of foot. We didn’t know what was going to happen before the race with all the good horses in the race but mine has really good form,” added Guyon.
Oddyssey, a three-year-old son of Ulysses, was purchased by Ghazali at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses-In-Training Sale for 80,000gns last October as a two-year-old.
He had finished third in the Superlative Stakes (G2) last July behind the leading European juvenile of 2023, City Of Troy.
Oddyssey finished fourth in the Al Rayyan Stakes on his Qatari debut before winning his last two starts over 1400m and 1600m.
On the 23-24 February, all eyes are fixed on Riyadh and the two days of top-quality racing at the Saudi Cup, which includes the richest race in the world.
Although horseracing in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia stretches back more than five decades since the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia was formed, the sport took on a new focus with the founding of The Saudi Cup in 2020 and it has quickly become one of the most anticipated events on the global racing calendar with 1000 local and international entries competing alongside the carnival of music, dance and premium hospitality.
