Only one result will do for Houtzen at Moonee Valley

Brad Waters - Tuesday September 26

The equation will be simple for Houtzen when she steps out at Moonee Valley on Friday night.

Advertisement
Houtzen galloping with the 2016 Mornington Cup winner Berisha on Monday. Photo: Darryl Shere r

Houtzen must win the Group III Scarborough Stakes (1200m) in comfortable fashion to keep alive her chances of shooting for $10 million in stakes in The Everest in Sydney on October 14.

Houtzen's trainer Toby Edmonds said a narrow win was unlikely to be enough for the filly to run in The Everest.

"She has got a slot in The Everest and that's her grand final but she has got to put the foot down this week or she is not going to run," Edmonds said.

"She has to perform Friday night to warrant going on.

"If she wins but wins poorly, she won't run but if she wins and smashes them, we'll be going on."

Houtzen finished third in the Group II McEwen Stakes (1000m) at her Melbourne debut on September 9 but that run provided the daughter of I Am Invincible with valuable experience on the Moonee Valley circuit.

Houtzen had more practice at the Valley in a gallop on Monday morning in which she wore blinkers but Edmonds said he would wait until Wednesday morning before deciding whether the speedster would wear them in the Scarborough Stakes.

"We just think that she has been a high-speed filly but you have actually got to make her do it," Edmonds said.

"Going this way around, she has always been quite relaxed in her work. (Jockey) Jeff (Lloyd) had to make her get up and make her work (on Monday).

"We're not 100 percent sure that she'll wear the blinkers. We'll make up our minds before acceptance time."

Edmonds added the 1200m of the Scarborough Stakes was what Houtzen required for her second-up outing, rather than the 1000m of the Group I Moir Stakes against the older horses.

"I think a 1200m race would be a nice race going forward into The Everest. She needs a good 1200m gallop and I think the 1000m legs might have just gone out of her," he said.

"It was always my plan to give her a 1200m run before she goes into The Everest."

Advertisment
More Reading...
Little Avondale’s Weanlings Follow Successful Footsteps
Graduates of Little Avondale Stud’s drafts at the NZB National Weanling Sale have a proud record of racetrack success, and stud principal Sam Williams believes his class of 2025 compares favourably with previous years.
Sires With Winners - Thursday May 29
Here is the full list of 41 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Debut Winner for King’s Legacy
King’s Legacy posted a seventh first crop winner on Friday with a fast finishing debut victory at Goulburn for talented gelding Nothing But Net.
Verry Exciting Weekend Looms
New Zealand horseman Nicholas Bishara will cross the Tasman this weekend to watch his filly Belle Detelle, a three-quarter sister to his ill-fated 11-time Group One Verry Elleegant, contest the Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m).
Investing in Fillies Can Pay Big Dividends
We saw it earlier this month at Inglis Chairman’s Sale and we saw it again this week, purchasing yearling fillies that can perform to a high level has the potential to yield a big pay day in the sale ring, so let’s take a closer look.
King’s Legacy Filly Wins by Three
The Lindsay Park team produced an impressive juvenile winner at Pakenham on Thursday evening with King’s Legacy filly Bella Pietra winning as she pleased.
Breeding To Win - 2025 G1 Queensland Derby
It’s been 15 years since Dariana thumped the colts to win the Queensland Derby (2400m) in 2010 and maybe it’s time for another filly to triumph!
Sires Pack Profitable Punch at Weanling Sale
There are many members of New Zealand’s stallion ranks whose progenies racetrack results far exceed their service fee.  Next month’s NZB National Weanling Sale at Karaka is an ideal opportunity for traders and end users to secure the progeny of these creditable sires.
Expensive Ghaiyyath Colt Wins Stakes
Darley shuttler Ghaiyyath (IRE) had his first Australian winner earlier this week and overnight produced a new stakes-winner in the UK where Godolphin owned colt Opera Ballo won the Listed Heron Stakes (1m)at Sandown.
Juvenile Trial Watch - Rosehill
Trials this morning at Rosehill were run on a heavy 9 so horses were well held together and not asked for too much, but there were still a couple of intriguing unraced heat winners by Extreme Choice and Justify (USA), plus we got another look at the $1.4million Wootton Bassett (GB) colt from Sunlight.