Brilliant Magic Millions 2yo Classic winner Houtzen scored an all the way win in a 1000m barrier trial at the Gold Coast today as she prepares to take up a slot in the $10m The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 14.

Houtzen, above, is being prepared to run in The Everest at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

Houtzen, above, is being prepared to run in The Everest at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

The Gold Coast trained Houtzen along with Golden Slipper winner She Will Reign are two fillies that have been confirmed runners in the inaugural running for The Everest.

Trainer Toby Edmonds will head to Melbourne with Houtzen for her initial 2017 Spring Carnival outings before returning to Sydney to take on the older sprinters in The Everest.

“She is going along nicely and should be ready to head to Melbourne in late August or early September,” Edmonds told AAP.

“We will pick some lead-up races for her and then head to The Everest in Sydney.”

“There are some outstanding horses being aimed at it. But my filly will have 50kg and they will have to run her down.”

“It will be no easy task but she won’t let us down.”

Houtzen is the winner of four of her five race starts and suffered her first defeat when fifth to She Will Reign on a saturated Rosehill track in the 2017 Group 1 $3.5m Longines Golden Slipper (1200m) on March 18.

The I Am Invincible filly was the star two year old of the 2017 Magic Millions Carnival at the Gold Coast in January when she led from the outside barrier in a field of sixteen to record a barrier to post victory in the $2m Jeep Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m).

Houtzen then kept her unbeaten record intact with an all the way win in a 1000m Eagle Farm 2yo Handicap with 63kg on her back before heading to Sydney for the Golden Slipper.

Pre-post betting for The Everest at Ladbrokes.com.au has Houtzen marked at $11 alongside of the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained English and Chris Waller’s super mare Winx who is most unlikely to take her place in the field.

Randwick 1200m specialist Chautauqua sits at the top of the market order at $4.60 just ahead of Gary Portelli’s Golden Slipper winner She Will Reign at $6.

Early market order for the 2017 The Everest at Ladbrokes.com.au: $4.60 Chautauqua, $6 She Will Reign, $11 Winx, English, Houtzen, $13 Menari, Russian Revolution, $15 Spieth, $17 Battaash, Redzel, Vega Magic, $21 Clearly Innocent, Limato, Pariah, Redkirk Warrior, $26 Brave Smash, Fell Swoop, Jukebox, Terravista, $33 Bound For Nowhere, $34 Black Heart Bart, Global Glamour, Le Romain, $41 Derryn, Omei Sword, $51 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.