O'Dea and Hoysted set for bumper Saturday

By Glenn Davis

The training partnership of Steve O’Dea and Matt Hoysted is having a bumper season and it could be even brighter if things go their way at Doomben on Saturday.

O’Dea and Hoysted joined forces 12 months ago and currently sit second in the Brisbane trainers’ premiership with 17 wins - 10 wins behind champion trainer Tony Gollan.

It augurs well for the future after posting 34 wins in last season’s metropolitan premiership.

The duo currently has a 23 per cent winning strike rate with 22 wins from 95 starters this season.

At Doomben on Saturday, the pair will saddle up three starters, Birriecart in the male’s division of the Three-Year-Old Handicap over 1200 metres, Fetch in the filly’s division and Contemptuous in the Class 6 Handicap over 1200 metres.

Birriecart - a Boris Thornton mount - looks to have a bright future and is unbeaten in two starts.

The son of Husson looked above average at the midweek meeting at Doomben on October 13, scoring decisively over the John Symons and Sheila Laxon-trained Shajaea.

Birriecart is part owned by Hoysted’s wife Caitlan and will soon have a break before being aimed at the QTIS Jewel at the Gold Coast in March.

“His last win was super considering a lot went wrong,” Hoysted said.

“The plan was to be a little closer in the run but he had to settle back further than expected, but he really attacked the line strongly in the last 50 metres.

“After this run, he’ll have a break and get ready for the QTIS Jewel in March.”

Fetch also looks to have a promising future and is part owned by O’Dea’s long-time client Proven Thoroughbreds.

The daughter of Sebring was a $120,000 buy at last year’s Magic Millions sales and was taken to Grafton when she scored on debut in April.

She trialled three times before resuming with an eye-catching third against her own age behind the Bryan Dais-trained Glorious Ruby over 1000 metres at Eagle Farm on October 9.

“She’s come on well since her last run and has a lot of ability but she’s giving away a lot of experience in this,” Hoysted said.

“With the run under her belt the 1200 metres looks a lot more suitable.”

Contemptious is also raced by Proven Thoroughbreds and is chasing a hat-trick of wins and is coming off a dominant one-and-a-half length win over the Scott Morrisey-trained Kingscote at Doomben on October 2.

His latest victory took the gelding’s tally of wins to five from only 10 starts, missing a prize money cheque only once in his career.

"I think Contemptuous should be very hard to beat again," Hoysted said.