They are Australian racing's odd couple.
The craggy-faced old jockey who stood at death's door only a few years ago and the flashy young horse who is now being written off as a spent force by most punters.
Together, Jeff Lloyd and Houtzen are aiming to prove their knockers wrong.
For both, the climb to The Everest could be their one last shot at a huge racing prize.
Former South African Lloyd, 56, has already staged an extraordinary comeback after suffering a devastating stroke in 2013.
At the time he was just clinging onto life and doctors warned a second stroke could send him to an early grave.
It made Lloyd's record-busting effort to ride 189 winners last season one of Australian sport's great back-from-the-brink stories.
So can Houtzen, the Magic Millions winner trained by Toby Edmonds, also enjoy a famous comeback?
The Queensland sprint filly trained by Toby Edmonds drifted to $21 in betting for The Everest after finishing third in a six-horse field in the Group II McEwen Stakes (1000m) at her Melbourne debut earlier this month.
On the face of it she was disappointing. Much more was expected.
She now must win the Group III Scarborough Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Friday night to warrant her pushing onto The Everest.
Her Magic Millions partner Lloyd hops back on her, having only ridden once in his lifetime before at Moonee Valley.
And that was almost three decades ago.
But Lloyd is backing Friday night to be the start of a modern-day racing fairytale for both jockey and horse.
"I think Houtzen looks the best I have ever seen her look … she looks tremendous," Lloyd enthused, after hopping off her back at Moonee Valley earlier in the week.
"I was very happy with her and the blinkers didn't make her do anything over the top and she was switched on without being too keen.
"As for me, I think it was 27 years ago I came out here to ride at Moonee Valley for an international meeting.
"I'm not sure but it was a long time ago."
Edmonds is equally happy with Houtzen and confirmed the ageless Lloyd had been booked to ride her should she take her place in The Everest field.
Lloyd has reduced his weight to 52.5kg in recent weeks and he says riding at Houtzen's Everest weight won't be an issue.
"I'll get down to 51kg," Lloyd said.
"I've been looking after my weight and I've been walking around at about 52.5kg now."
The task confronting Houtzen just to get to The Everest – let alone climb to its peak – is a gigantic one.
But Houtzen's rider has won a much bigger battle in recent years, just to get back into the saddle.
