HOUTZEN’S BASE CAMP
THE climb towards The Everest for Gold Coast filly Houtzen is under way with the three-year-old in action this weekend at Moonee Valley. Houtzen, who won the Magic Millions 2YO Classic earlier this year on the Gold Coast, will race in Saturday’s McEwen Stakes (1000m). Top trainer Toby Edmonds gave his star her first chance to look at the Moonee Valley track yesterday. Edmonds said Houtzen’s focus though was on the $10 million Everest race at Randwick in Sydney next month – representing Aquis Farm.
GOLD Coast trainer Toby Edmonds won’t be concerned if his flying three-year-old filly Houtzen has her colours lowered in her return to racing in the McEwen Stakes (1000m) on Saturday at Moonee Valley.
Firstly he concedes she’s facing a small but high quality affair and also he has his eyes on the bigger prize, The Everest next month at Randwick.
Houtzen, who won the Magic Millions 2YO Classic, will use the slot held by Aquis Farm.
Yesterday morning Houtzen had her first look at Moonee Valley, which will be the venue for her two runs leading into The Everest.
“She’s in a good space. She wasn’t out to break any records and she got on the right leg and clicked up nicely down the running,” Edmonds admitted.
“If she wins, she wins. It’s not the be all and end all and her main goal is The Everest.
“It will be more important how she goes second up and third up,”
“She worked with a stablemate and Regan Bayliss was happy with her.”
Edmonds said Craig Williams would ride her on Saturday. Houtzen won her first four starts including the Magic Millions Stakes and her only defeat was her fifth in the Golden Slipper Stakes.
“While she’s not fully wound up she’s going to have an advantage as she will be carrying only 50 kilograms,” Edmonds said.
He said after Saturday, Houtzen would again run at Moonee Valley in the Moir Stakes (1000m) or against her own age in the 1200m Scarborough Stakes on Friday, September 29.
Meanwhile, Brenton Avdulla has secured the coveted Everest mount on favourite Chautauqua.
Part-owner Rupert Legh confirmed Avdulla would ride him in The Shorts (1100m) at Randwick on September 16 and the $10 million Everest on October 14.
“Happy to have Brenton on. He’s familiar with the horse, having been on him at two recent trials, and he seemed the obvious choice,’’ Legh said.
The date of The Everest, plus the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s tight hold on Tommy Berry, has paved the way for Avdulla to take the ride.
Hong Kong-based Berry, the regular rider of Chautauqua in Sydney, will not be granted a leave pass by the HKJC and another of his regular riders, Dwayne Dunn, is booked to ride long-time favourite Royal Symphony in the Caulfield Guineas on the same day.
IF SHE WINS, SHE WINS. IT’S NOT THE BE ALL AND END ALL AND HER MAIN GOAL IS THE EVEREST ... TOBY EDMONDS