By Glenn Davis
Trainer Steve O’dea’s quest for his first Magic Millions Classic win will continue with Katy’s Daughter at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
Katy’s Daughter will chase vital prizemoney to secure a start in next month’s $2 million feature when she lines up in the Aquis Farm Ladies Day QTIS Two-year-old Handicap (900m).
O’dea already is assured of a Magic Millions starter with talented filly Singular Sensation who is unbeaten after two starts at the Sunshine Coast and Doomben.
However, Katy’s Daughter is a borderline contender and is 20th in ballot order.
Katy’s Daughter is the latest progeny of Kiss Me Katy who helped put O’dea on the map as a rising young star in Queensland’s training ranks when he first moved from Townsville to Brisbane in 2009.
Kiss Me Katy was O’dea’s first Brisbane winner and first Stakes winner after she claimed the Listed Sir Douglas Wadley Stakes that year.
She finished her career with four wins from 14 starts including a Group 3 placing in the San Domenico Stakes at Randwick.
O’dea owes a lot to Kiss Me Katy’s owner-breeder, Burdekin cane farmer George Rapisarda who has been a long-time supporter.
"Joe has been a great supporter of mine since I started training up north,” O’dea said.
Katy’s Daughter is raced by a women’s syndicate who are friends or family of Rapisarda and is eligible for the ladies Magic Millions bonus.
O’dea’s best performance in the Magic Millions Classic was with Candika who finished third to Capitalist in last year’s race.
O'Dea, a former academic, has trained four of Kiss Me Katy's offspring, Katy's Son, The Last Kiss, Dream Kisses and now Katy’s Daughter.
Katy’s Daughter is by Epaulette, a winner of two Group 1’s in the Golden Rose at Randwick in 2012 and the 2013 Doomben 10,000.
Katy’s Daughter debuted at Doomben earlier this month finishing a creditable second to Tony Sears-trained Ardoyne over 1010 metres.
The filly will be ridden by Paul Hammersley and has drawn barrier five.
Racing Queensland webnews December 20