Odeliz Speeds to Prix Jean Romanet Victory
Description:
Barbara M. Keller's Odeliz set the pace and pulled a 35-1 stunner in the Darley Prix Jean Romanet (Fr-I) for older fillies and mares Aug. 23 at Deauville.
A 5-year-old Falco mare, Odeliz held French group winner Bawina off by a neck while covering 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles) with Adrie de Vries aboard in 2:14.77 on very soft turf. Dual French classic winner Avenir Certain closed furiously on the outside, after going widest of all from last into the stretch, and missed second by three-quarters of a length.
Last year's winner, Ribbons, checked in sixth in the 11-horse field.
Trainer Karl Burke told Racing Post that setting the pace was not the plan with Odeliz.
"But we didn't think there was any pace, and I left it with Adrie and I thought we'd sit third or fourth," Burke said. "So after a furlong, I knew at least we would find something out today."
Fourth in the Prix Rothschild (Fr-I) Aug. 2 at Deauville, Odeliz had previously placed at the top level when second to Just The Judge in the 2014 E.P. Taylor (Can-IT), in which she raced in last place early, at Woodbine.
"That is probably where she will go back," Burke said.
Odeliz has a 5-5-4 record from 21 career starts, including six group placings in England and Ireland. She was third to eventual Juddmonte International (Eng-I) winner Arabian Queen in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes (Eng-II) in June at Epsom, and has a pair of stakes wins in France and Germany, the latter a group III.
Bred in Ireland by Aleyrion Bloodstock, Odeliz is out of the unraced Efisio mare Acatama, a half sister to two-time U.S. grade I winner and group producer Amorama. Burke bought her at the Arqana October yearling sale for $30,540 from consignor Haras de Grandcamp, agent.