Houtzen favourite for 2017 Golden Slipper

Flying filly Houtzen has been installed favourite for the Group 1 $3.5m Longines Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on March 18 following her all the way win at the Gold Coast last Saturday.

Magic Millions 2yo Classic winner Houtzen, above, is the new favourite for the 2017 Golden Slipper at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.

Magic Millions 2yo Classic winner Houtzen, above, is the new favourite for the 2017 Golden Slipper at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.

The Gold Coast trained Houtzen ($4 favourite) jumped from the outside barrier in the sixteen horse $2m Jeep Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) and after spearing straight across the rest of the field was never headed to record a half a length win over the fast finishing Chauffeur ($19).

Ladbrokes.com.au now have Houtzen as the $6 favourite for the Golden Slipper ahead of the Gary Portelli’s filly She Will Reign at $8 and the Peter and Paul Snowden trained Khan at $13.

Houtzen made it three wins from three starts in the Magic Millions 2yo Classic after scoring on debut in a 1050m 2yo Handicap at Doomben on December 24 and then winning a fortnight later in an 1100m 2yo Handicap at the Gold Coast on January 7.

Trainer Toby Edmonds will now give the I Am Invincible filly a short freshen before preparing her for the 2017 Sydney Autumn Carnival that will include the Golden Slipper.

Edmonds was full of praise for Houtzen and the wining ride of Jeff Lloyd who had to rate the filly in front after crossing the field from the outside barrier and then was able to do enough on her in the straight to hold off all the challengers.

“She was the best filly and Jeff was really aggressive,” Edmonds said.

“She probably ran through the bridle a bit and she got a little tired, but it was such a great effort.

“I left it to Jeff basically because we had been through the race so many times.”

To win the glamour Magic Millions 2yo Classic on his home track was very special for Edmonds who is having one of his best seasons with thirty-seven metropolitan winners already on the board.

“Magic Millions for us is everything, it is our hometown Carnival,” Edmonds said.

“It has been a dream come true.”

Golden Slipper second favourite She Will Reign scored an eight and a quarter lengths win on debut in a 1000m 2yo Maiden at Kembla Grange on December 10 before scoring an easy four lengths win in the $500,000 Inglis Nursery (1000m) at Randwick on December 17.

While Khan is the winner of his only race start in the Listed $150,000 Newgate Breeders’ Plate (1000m) at Randwick on October 1.

Early Golden Slipper market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $6 Houtzen, $8 She Will Reign, $13 Khan, $15 Invincible Star, Madeenaty, $17 Dinnigan, From Within, Tulip, Veranillo, $21 Condor Heroes, Jorda, Kanga’s Eye, $26 Lucky Louie, Luiza, Oscietra, Serena Bay, Single Bullet, Vinland, $34 or more the rest.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.