Hot Houtzen ready to climb mountain
GOLD Coast trainer Toby Edmonds is heading to Melbourne to supervise the final stages of star filly Houtzen’s first-up run.
Houtzen will resume on Saturday in the Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1000m) which will be her first attempt at weight-for-age racing.
The Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner on her home track in January, Houtzen has not raced since finishing fifth on a heavy Rosehill track in the Golden Slipper in March, her only defeat from five starts.
She has had a trial, which she won easily in good time, and headed to Melbourne on Thursday.
Edmonds said Houtzen was near where he wanted her in the build-up to the $10 million The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 14.
“She arrived safely in Melbourne and has settled in well,” Edmonds said.
“I will work her at Moonee Valley on Tuesday and then it is into the McEwen Stakes on that track on Saturday.
“It is important for her to get a look at the track before starting there.
“Over the years a few horses having their first go at The Valley haven’t handled it.”
Houtzen will carry 50kg in the McEwen and is expected to be in the leading group from the jump.
“I think she will give them something to chase and with the light weight she will be hard to run down,” Edmonds said.
Premier Melbourne jockey Craig Williams will ride Houtzen in the Moonee Valley gallop tomorrow ahead of the McEwen but an Everest rider is yet to be decided.
Houtzen is guaranteed a spot in The Everest at Randwick where she will run for slot-holder Aquis Farm.
Potential Everest rivals Vega Magic and Redzel won impressively on Saturday.
Vega Magic’s all-the-way win in the $1 million Memsie Stakes at Caulfield confirmed the former Perth sprinter’s emergence as a star.
Vega Magic, who was ridden by Williams, won nine of his 14 starts when trained in the west and was transferred to the Lindsay Park team of trainers David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig in Victoria earlier this year.
He has won all three starts for his new stable, including the Group 1 Goodwood in May and also the Memsie.
Doomben 10,000 winner Redzel staked an emphatic claim for inclusion in the Everest with his triumphant return in the Concorde Stakes (1000m) at Randwick.
I THINK SHE WILL GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO CHASE AND WITH THE LIGHT WEIGHT SHE WILL BE HARD TO RUN DOWN TOBY EDMONDS