Houtzen draws outside barrier in Magic Millions 2yo Classic

Glamour filly Houtzen has drawn the outside barrier for the $2m Jeep Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast on Saturday.

From Within, above, draws handy barrier in Magic Millions 2yo Classic at the Gold Coast. Photo by Steve Hart.

From Within, above, draws handy barrier in Magic Millions 2yo Classic at the Gold Coast. Photo by Steve Hart.

The Toby Ednomds trained Houtzen drew barrier twenty-one in the final field of sixteen plus five emergencies and will jump from the outside gate when the field is reduced to the safely limit of sixteen at scratching time on Saturday morning.

Houtzen made a huge impression when she made two wins from two starts with a four and a half length trouncing of her opposition in an 1100m 2yo Handicap at the Gold Coast last Saturday.

The I Am Invincible filly is in trouble of losing favouritism after Chris Waller’s classy filly From Within came up with barrier seven and looks likely to jump from barrier three if all of the emergencies fail to gain a start.

From Within is a winner of her only race start and looked impressive beating Invader by one and a quarter lengths in an 1100m 2yo Plate at Canterbury on December 31.

Eagle Farm Trainer Chris Munce will saddle up two runners in the Magic Millions 2yo Classic with Ours To Keep drawing nicely at barrier at barrier four while Champ Elect was out of luck coming up with gate seventeen.

Damian Browne will continue his association with the undefeated Ours To Keep after he made it three wins from three starts when he beat Saturday’s rival Goodfella in the Group 3 $200,000 Lilivale Stud B.J. McLachlan Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm on December 31.

Champ Elect is also undefeated from two race starts and Kerrin McEvoy takes over from Browne following the filly’s win in the Listed $100,000 Calaway Gal Stakes (1110m) at Doomben on December 17.

Munce can’t fault the preparation of his two Magic Millions 2yo Classic chances and gave them both a huge tick of approval after they worked at Eagle Farm on Saturday morning.

“Their work on the course proper (Saturday) was terrific,” Munce said.

“They couldn’t be better. They’ve both had uninterrupted preparations, there’s been no hiccups and are exactly where I want them.”

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Invincible Star was also out of luck coming up with barrier sixteen but could move into gate twelve at jump time.

The I Am Invincible filly was also impressive at her only race start with a two and a quarter lengths win in the Group 3 $150,000 Ottawa Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on November 1.

The Lindsay Park trained Madeenaty will jump from the inside gate with Mark Zahra in the saddle again after the pair combined to win the $200,000 Wyong Magic Millions 2yo (1100m) at Wyong on December 22.

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.