Toby Edmonds’ gun Gold Coast-trained filly Houtzen kicks off her spring campaign in Melbourne this Saturday heading the McEwen Stakes 2017 field ahead of her run in Sydney’s The Everest next month.  

Houtzen will step out in Saturday’s Group 2 McEwen Stakes at The Valley. Photo: Steve Hart

The three-year-old daughter of I Am Invincible had a testing gallop at the notoriously tight Moonee Valley circuit on Tuesday morning ahead of her first-up assignment in the Group 2 $200,000 Mitty’s McEwen Stakes (1000m). 

Part of the star-studded Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes Day line-up, early markets on the McEwen Stakes through Ladbrokes.com.au have Houtzen as the equal $3 favourite with the also returning Russian Revolution.  

Houtzen was put through her paces at the Valley with Regan Bayliss aboard and handled the circuit without a worry Edmonds told the Herald Sun.  

“She went great. She wasn’t out to break any records,” he said. 

“She worked with a stablemate and Regan Bayliss was happy with her.” 

Houtzen has won four of her five starts to date including the $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) at her home track in mid-January.  

After a four-length romp home against the boys under 63kg at Eagle Farm in March, the then two-year-old went to Sydney on March 18 for a shot at the Group 1 $3.5 million Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m). 

A wide barrier (13 of 16) and mud track (Heavy 10) got the better of her at Rosehill however and she could only manage to run fifth behind She Will Reign.  

All looks on track for Houtzen to return to winning form this spring however as she tracks towards the biggest test of her career at Randwick on October 14 in the Restricted $10 million The Everest (1200m). 

Houtzen holds a slot in the weight-for-age event for Aquis Farm and will be looking to get her confidence up with success in the McEwen Stakes on the weekend ahead of the world’s now richest turf race.  

Her biggest danger in the sprint is four-year-old Snitzel stallion Russian Revolution, winner of the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill on Golden Slipper Day.  

His latest run produced a fourth behind stablemate Redzel in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1200m) on May 13 in Brisbane.  

Redzel is one of five horses on the ATC shortlist for their slot in The Everest field.  

Houtzen currently sits as a $9 shot in futures The Everest betting just below the Gary Portelli-trained Golden Slipper winner She Will Reign ($6). 

The other single-figure chances in The Everest odds are Chautauqua ($4.80) and Lindsay Park’s Memsie Stakes winner from last weekend Vega Magic ($5).  

The Team Hawkes-trained Chautauqua is set to resume Saturday week at Randwick on September 16 in the Group 2 $200,000 The Shorts (1100m).  

To back Houtzen this Saturday first-up at the Valley and for all the top upcoming racing odds including those on The Everest 2017 visit Ladbrokes.com.au.