Written by Paul Vettise
A long and successful partnership looks to have another potential stakes winner in the form of the progressive youngster Gotta Kiss (Not A Single Doubt).
The filly already has three wins on the board for trainer Steve O’Dea and Proven Thoroughbreds’ Jamie Walter with the 2-year-old now set to chase black type honours before she is put aside until the spring.
O’Dea was born into racing as the son of North Queensland trainer Graham and was working in the stable as soon as he was able and subsequently honed his skills around Australia and overseas.
He gained experience from stints at the Gold Coast with trainers Alan Bailey and Gillian Heinrich and later in Sydney with Gai Waterhouse and Kevin Moses as well as in Singapore with Trevor Bailey.
Steven O'Dea
On his father’s retirement, O’Dea took over the stable before he jumped at the opportunity for a move to Eagle Farm and shortly after his association with Walter.
“I had my first horse for Jamie about six months after I first moved to Brisbane so it’s been the best part of 12 years now,” O’Dea said.
“We’ve increased the numbers over the years and counting all the yearlings we’ve now got near on 50 horses for Proven. It’s been a great partnership.”
“We’ve increased the numbers over the years and counting all the yearlings we’ve now got near on 50 horses for Proven.” – Steve O’Dea
Among the leading lights have been the G2 Queensland Guineas winner Sir Moments (Choisir), the G2 Roman Consul S. winner Sesar (Sebring) and the Listed Princess S. winner Candika (Sebring), who also finished third in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic.
O’Dea now has another exciting prospect in Gotta Kiss, who has won three of her six starts with her only unplaced effort coming in the Magic Millions Classic back in January.
“She’s done a super job for us if you take out her run on Millions day when she was in the worst part of the track,” he said.
“We’ll have a look at her through the week and probably leaning toward running in the fillies’ race in three weeks’ time, the Listed Bill Carter S.
“It was always my plan to give her a slightly easier winter and that got changed a little bit when they brought the G1 JJ Atkins S. back to 1400 metres.
Atkins option
“If she was to come out and win impressively there’s a chance she could back up in the JJ Atkins, we’ll just wait and see on that, or there’s also the Listed Dalrello S., two weeks later.”
Gotta Kiss as a yearling
Gotta Kiss was a $150,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase for O’Dea and Walter and is out of the four-time winning sprinter Sweet Kiss (Strada).
Earlier this year, they also purchased the half-sister by I Am Invincible for $300,000 with both fillies offered by Yarraman Park Stud.
“She’s a really nice filly and obviously costs a bit more. Gotta Kiss is the first foal out of the mare so she’s off to a good start,” O’Dea said. “They are both good-moving fillies and the Vinnie filly is probably a bit bigger with more scope.”
