Houtzen’s Golden Slipper lead up undecided

Gold Coast trainer Toby Edmonds is undecided if Magic Millions 2yo Classic winner Houtzen will have her final Golden Slipper lead up run at Eagle Farm on Saturday or head south.

Houtzen, above, led all the way to win the 2017 Magic Millions 2yo Classic at the Gold Coast. Photo by  Steve Hart.

Houtzen, above, led all the way to win the 2017 Magic Millions 2yo Classic at the Gold Coast. Photo by Steve Hart.

Edmonds’ first choice was to run in the QTIS two year old Handicap (1000m) at Eagle Farm but after the handicapper gave the I Am Invincible filly 63kg plus the prospect of a wet track, the in-form trainer is looking south of the border to tune Houtzen up for the Group 1 $3.5m Longines Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on March 18.

Houtzen is also in the final field for the Group 2 $300,000 Reisling Stakes (1200m) at Randwick and is among the nominations for the Group 3 $300,000 Mercedes-Benz Canberra Black Opal Stakes (1200m) at Canberra on Sunday.

“I will have to have good think and decide on whether to run her in Brisbane,” Edmonds told AAP.

“I suppose I could claim but we will have to have a good think and discussion with the owners.”

“My preference was for Brisbane but that also depended on the weather. They are predicting heavy rain but it hasn’t arrived as yet and hopefully it will stay away.

“She needs to run this weekend and that is why we have given ourselves the three options.”

The other problem for the for Edmonds is that Sydney is also coping a deluge that is expected to last until the weekend with the Randwick track already rated a heavy 9 and the forecast for Canberra is also for showers.

Houtzen is undefeated from three race starts and after winning at Doomben and the Gold Coast went onto lead all the way to win the $2m Jeep Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast on January 14 and was installed as the favourite for the Golden Slipper at Ladbrokes.com.au.

The Gary Portelli trained filly She Will Reign has since jumped to the top of the Golden Slipper market order at $3 following her first up win in the Group 2 $250,000 Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on February 18 while Houtzen is now on the second line of betting at $8 with the Gerald Ryan trained Menari.

Early market order for the Golden Slipper at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3 She Will Reign, $8 Houtzen, Menari, $11 Catchy, Pariah, $15 Chauffeur, Veranillo, $17 Muraaqeb, Trekking, $21 Formality, From Within, Jorda, Limbo Soul, Madeenaty, $26 or better 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.