Houtzen in final trial for crack at Group 1

HOUTZEN will complete her final bit of trackwork at Flemington today ahead of the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes on Saturday.

The Gold Coast filly will race down Flemington’s famous 1200m straight course for the first time at the weekend when she takes on some of the nation’s best three-year-olds.

Gold Coast trainer Toby Edmonds has had Houtzen staring down the Flemington straight in recent days.

“She jumped out on Friday morning down the straight at Flemington and went super,” Edmonds said.

Houtzen, the Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner on the Gold Coast in January, has been based at Peter and Paul Snowden’s Flemington stables for her Victorian campaign.

There she has rubbed shoulders with the likes of Redzel, who won the $10 million The Everest at Randwick this month – a race Edmonds’ filly led before finishing seventh in a brave run.

The Everest was always going to be Houtzen’s grand final but Edmonds was pleased she had recovered well enough to make a charge at the Coolmore Stud Stakes.

“The Everest was always the goal and if she came through the run well she was always going to the Coolmore,” Edmonds said.

Houtzen won the Group 3 Scarborough Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley at her start before The Everest.