Houtzen ‘best she has been’

GEELONG’S Peter Mullen is confident his flying mare Houtzen can turn the tables on Moir Stakes favourite Nature Strip in tonight’s Group 1 clash at Moonee Valley.

Mullen, who is a part owner in the four-year-old, will venture up to The Valley tonight with Houtzen hoping to turn the tables from their last battle in the McEwen Stakes.

Nature Strip had to run a course record to hold out a fast-finishing Houtzen in that race earlier this month and Mullen was confident his mare would be challenging again.

“We think she is the best she has been. She is a bigger, stronger mare,” Mullen said.

“We went in (to the McEwen Stakes) underdone. (Trainer) Toby Edmonds has changed her training a bit, he has kept her fresh so we had a bit up our sleeve.”

Edmonds said he was expecting Houtzen, to be ridden by former Colac jockey Ryan Maloney, to perform well second-up.

“She’s very good early in her prep and if she’s ever going to figure in a Group 1 then this could be the one and I couldn’t have her any better,” Edmonds said. “This year she’s a lot more mature, a lot stronger and she’s handling all the travelling and all the racing really well.”

Houtzen had a maintenance gallop at Moonee Valley on Tuesday and while not out to break the clock produced a piece of work that pleased Edmonds.

The trainer said his concern following a first-up gut-buster against Nature Strip was how she’d recover.

“She bounced into the feed bin and was quite bright the next morning and has been ever since,” Edmonds said.

Mullen watched Houtzen in the McEwen Stakes across the other side of the world, glued to his phone in Italy as she zipped around the tight Moonee Valley circuit.

“I nearly punched a hole in the wall, I thought she was going to get up,” Mullen said.

Nature Strip opened a $2.20 favourite after drawing barrier seven with Houtzen, drawing barrier two, is second pick at $6.50.