Part-owner Darren Halpin believes his filly’s nasty Magic Millions 2YO Classic 2017 barrier draw is “not the end” of her chances when Houtzen jumps from the outside alley at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
Gold Coast trainer Toby Edmonds’ filly Houtzen jumps from the outside 2017 Magic Millions 2YO Classic barrier this weekend. Photo: Daniel Costello.
The Toby Edmonds-trained I Am Invincible filly is local Gold Coast hope lining-up as part of a capacity field of juveniles in this summer’s $2 million Restricted Listed Jeep Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m).
Undefeated to date she posted her second career win when running away four a four and a half-length victory over 1100m at the track only last weekend.
That impressive effort with Jeff Lloyd aboard saw Houtzen skyrocket to the top of Magic Millions 2YO Classic betting at Ladbrokes.com.au.
Lloyd continues his association with the smart filly on Saturday, but will have his work cut out for him from out wide after connections drew gate 21 (into 16 of 16) at Tuesday morning’s barrier draw.
Houtzen has done it easy from barrier two and then three in her opening two starts, but Halpin hopes she is classy enough to overcome the alley on Magic Millions Race Day.
“I turned the tile to the crowd and they all booed, I thought this can’t be good,” Halpin told Racing Victoria after the barrier draw.
“Toby [Edmonds] was quite calm, he said ‘Mate, that’s okay, we’ll do the rest, you stay out of it and we’ll sort it’.
“I think it’s now up to Jeff [Lloyd] and Toby to have a go and find the front and win I suppose.
“Jeff knows the horse well so I’m not too worried about it.
“It’s not [the end of her chances], I think she’s fast enough out of the gates that whatever we want to do with her, she can do.”
The bookies reacted accordingly and Houtzen eased out from $3.50 to $3.70 in the updated Magic Millions 2YO Classic odds at Ladbrokes.com.au.
Her biggest danger drawn a treat in barrier seven is the lightly-raced Chris Waller-trained Not A Single Doubt filly From Within.
She has had just one start to date winning over 1100m at Canterbury on December 31 and dual Magic Millions Gold Coast Classic winning jockey Hugh Bowman comes aboard on Saturday.
If there are no scratchings from the current Magic Millions 2YO Classic field, From Within will come into barrier four.
All ten Magic Millions 2YO Classic winners in the past decade jumped from single digits, favouring all those drawn well heading towards this year’s edition.
The last champion to overcome a wide alley was Mirror Mirror who jumped from gate 15 for her 2006 win.
To get behind your Magic Millions 2017 Classic betting tips at the right price make sure you’ve got an open and ready to go at Ladbrokes.com.au – home of Odds Boost (T&Cs apply).
