Local mare steps out at Ascot
THE Geelong owners of speedster Houtzen say they are proud of their tough mare’s effort in her eighth-placed finish in the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot yesterday.
Houtzen, part-owned by locals Peter and Rhonda Mullen, slipped when the barriers opened, costing her a chance in the race before it had even truly begun.
The Toby Edmonds-trained four-year-old went down low on her front legs with jockey Kerrin McEvoy doing an outstanding job to get her to go forward in the wet conditions in the Group 1.
However, that poor start never allowed her to get into real contention for a place as last year’s winner, Blue Point, edged out favourite Battaash for the second successive year.
Mullen, who travelled to Ascot for the race, said he was proud of his star despite the result. “It was a pity she nearly fell the start but I’m proud of her to get us on the world stage,” Mullen told the Geelong Advertiser from England.
“Ascot was more than we expected, the crowd was enormous and the facilities are unbelievable, only spoiled by a very wet day. “All-in-all, this was a dream of mine to have a runner at Ascot although we didn’t get a result but as they say that’s racing.”
Soldier’s Call, a winner at the Royal meeting last year, was third. Billed as a match between the big two, it developed into everything local race fans wanted inside the final furlong — but Charlie Appleby’s fiveyear-old Blue Point was pulling away at the line.