A defeat in Saturday's Group II McEwen Stakes would not jeopardise brilliant Queensland filly Houtzen's quest to win next month's Everest at Randwick.
Gold Coast trainer Toby Edmonds chose Saturday's Moonee Valley contest as the perfect starting point for Houtzen before she heads to Sydney to chase the $10 million in stakes in the Everest next month.
"Even though she is taking on hardened sprinters, she is only carrying 50kg and I don't think there was a weight-for-age race up there (Sydney) and we probably would have less of an advantage at the weights," Edmonds said.
"I thought we'd come to Melbourne and I think it will do her the world of good anyway."
Edmonds said Houtzen has developed since her impressive two-year-old campaign that produced four wins, including the Magic Millions 2YO Classic on the Gold Coast, but winning the McEwen Stakes first-up was not his priority.
"I'm not too concerned on Saturday," Edmonds said. "If she wins, she wins. It's not the be-all-and-end-all because she has been set for The Everest and I'm really comfortable where she's at now.
"It would be great for her to win, don't get me wrong, and she's here to win if she can but it's more important second-up and third-up."
Punters think Houtzen can make a winning return to racing, backing her into $2.80 in Sportsbet's 'all-in' McEwen Stakes market and the three-year-old enjoyed her look at the Moonee Valley circuit on Tuesday morning.
Galloping with one-start maiden Eptimum, Houtzen worked over 800m in 56.29 seconds and ran home her last 400m in 24.95 but Edmunds wasn't looking too closely at the clock.
"She has furnished nicely and she's come back and got a good head on her too. She's not buzzed up or anything and she's in a good space," Edmonds said.
"She wasn't out to break any records but it was good to see her get around that way of going. She got on her right leg and was comfortable outside the other horse and clicked up nicely down the run."
Regan Bayliss rode Houtzen in her gallop at Moonee Valley but Craig Williams will ride the daughter of I Am Invincible in the McEwen Stakes, providing he has recovered from a cut finger that caused him to miss Tuesday's gallop.
