The Robert Sangster Stakes 2018 in Adelaide this May could be calling for Toby Edmonds’ gun filly Houtzen.
Houtzen could be Adelaide-bound in May for the Robert Sangster Stakes 2018 at Morphettville. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
The three-year-old daughter of I Am Invincible may head to Morphettville Racecourse for the first time looking for a breakthrough elite level win in the Group 1 $1 million Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) on May 5.
Back in work at Edmonds’ Gold Coast base for nearly a month, Houtzen has matured well ahead of her autumn return and is deserving of another shot at Group 1 success according to her trainer.
“She has been back in work for three weeks and she will go to Sydney for some runs in March but everything is heading towards the Robert Sangster,” Edmonds told Racenet.
“She has really filled out and matured and she looks great to me.”
Houtzen is best known for her outstanding summer as a two-year-old last year where she won her opening three career starts including the Restricted Listed $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic (120m) on the Gold Coast.
A subsequent four length romp home in against the boys in the wet carrying 63kg at Eagle Farm had her as one of the best in betting for her first trip to Sydney in the iconic Group 1 $3 million Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m).
Houtzen however only managed to run fifth to fellow filly She Will Reign in the lucrative Rosehill feature that May before being sent out for a spell.
She returned in the spring and her best result was a Group 3 Champagne Stakes (1200m) win as the odds-on favourite second-up at The Valley.
After securing a slot in the inaugural Restricted $10 million The Everest (1200m) in Sydney in mid-October, Houtzen was far from disgraced when only three lengths off the Peter & Paul Snowden-trained winner Redzel who faces Winx in a Rosehill trial this coming Monday morning.
In her final spring run, Edmonds’ filly failed to match it with the boys down the famous Flemington straight running ninth to Merchant Navy in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) on VRC Derby Day.
Leading-up to the Robert Sangster Stakes during the Adelaide Autumn Racing Carnival, Houtzen is likely to have a number of Sydney runs.
Edmonds is yet to map out an exact campaign for the $1.7 million earner however with options wide open.
The last three-year-old Robert Sangster Stakes winner was Rostova (2010), while favourite for this autumn’s edition of the female-only race is local hope Viddora.
Lloyd Kennewell trains the brilliant five-year-old daughter of I Am Invincible who was runner-up to Secret Agenda in the Robert Sangster Stakes results last year.
Since then Viddora has gone from strength-to-strength saluting in Perth’s Group 1 $1 million Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) in December before a dominant win in the Gold Coast’s $1 million Magic Millions Sprint (1200m) last Saturday carrying 59kg.
For all the latest autumn racing odds and offers head to our preferred online sportsbook Ladbrokes.com.au.
