Gold Coast filly Houtzen has regained favouritism from the Chris Waller trained From Within for the $2m Jeep Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
Gold Coast trainer Toby Edmonds, above, will saddle up Houtzen in the Magic Millions 2yo Classic at the Gold Coast. Photo by Daniel Costello.
The two fillies have been juggling the top spot of the market order at Ladborkes.com.au with Houtzen back on top at $3.90 while From Within has drifted from $3.60 to $4 on Wednesday morning.
The Toby Edmonds trained Houtzen jumped to the top of the market order for the Magic Millions 2yo Classic after demoralizing the rest of the field with a four and a half lengths win in an 1100m 2yo Handicap on her home track last Saturday.
But the I Am Invincible filly lost her top spot after drawing the outside barrier of twenty-one in the sixteen horse field plus five emergencies with From Within being installed the favourite after drawing perfectly at gate seven.
The top two spots have now been reversed and Edmonds is hoping that Houtzen will have enough early pace to overcome the horror draw and stay out of trouble in the early dash.
“It is what it is and we will get up tomorrow, the sun will rise, no one’s going to die and we will all be happy,” Edmonds told The Gold Coast Bulletin.
“Probably the only good thing about the barrier draw is she won’t be getting flattened from horses inside and outside of her and we can actually have a good look inside of her.
“But it makes her job very hard now. She can still win but it’s going to be very difficult.”
Edmonds still hasn’t worked out what Jeff Lloyd will do from the wide barrier but admits that they have a few options after Houtzen led all of the way to win last week.
“I’m not sure whether we use the same tactics or not,” Edmonds said.
“That’s what we need to work out – whether we push forward, push forward steadily and work our way across, bang to the front and be real aggressive or start quiet.
“There are quite a few options but it makes it difficult to navigate when you get a barrier like that.”
Edmonds is fully aware of the confidence the Waller stable has in their filly From Within and also see Chris Munce’s colt Ours To Keep as one of the main dangers.
“Obviously, From Within has good ability but it has one start in a five-horse field,” Edmonds said.
“It’s got to be everything they think it is but there is no reason why it couldn’t win.
“Chris Munce’s horse (Ours To Keep) has another soft draw, which is good for him. Good luck to him.
“I’d say his horse is the horse to beat from the barrier.”
Ours To Keep has been well supported in early betting and has firmed in from $7.50 to $6.50 at Ladbrokes.com.au after Munce’s wife Cathy selected barrier four in the original draw.
