Fresh Houtzen fires
Edmonds happy with gallop as Group 1 Manikato looms
GOLD Coast trainer Toby Edmonds has already made an impact with his spring carnival team in Melbourne and Houtzen will be out to add another win for the stable in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley on Friday night.
Houtzen finished a close second to Nature Strip in course record time in the Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1000m) last month at the Valley before her fifth to Viddora in the Group 1 Moir Stakes over the same course and distance a few weeks later.
While Houtzen is yet to win this spring in Melbourne, her stablemates Winter Bride and From Within have both struck for stakes successes.
Winter Bride has won two Group 3 mares races at Caulfield while From Within won the Listed Alinghi Stakes on Saturday.
Edmonds has given Houtzen four weeks between races heading into the Manikato Stakes (1200m) and the mare was taken to the course for a hitout on Saturday.
“She worked beautifully,” Edmonds said. “She had a good blow after the gallop. “She’s not the best worker in the world but she got enough out of it. We’ve given her a month between runs which I feel is quite good.
“She came back and won the PJ Bell Stakes (in Sydney in April) off a month between runs. We’ve taken that same line so hopefully it works.”
Houtzen was last night on the third line of Ladbrokes’ betting at $7 ahead of the barrier draw today.
Kementari was the favourite at $4 ahead of 2018 Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Sunlight at $4.50.
“Houtzen was very good against Nature Strip first-up and she had no luck in the Moir,” Edmonds said. “The 1200 metres (on Friday) is a better distance for her.”
Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien has four sprinters nominated, including Intelligence Cross who has passed a barrier test to the satisfaction of stewards.