Fleet
footed I Am Invincible filly Houtzen cemented her claims for a start in the $10
million Everest with a comfortable victory at Moonee Valley on Friday night in the
Group III MVRC Scarborough Stakes.
Ridden forward by regular partner Jeff Lloyd to take the lead, Houtzen
controlled the race and kicked clear in the straight to win by a soft length in
a brisk 1:10.75.
It was the second run back from a spell for Houtzen, who won the Magic Millions
Classic in January and was a game fifth in the Group I ATC Golden Slipper behind
She Will Reign.
"She wasn't wound up at her first start back," said Jeff Lloyd.
"The six furlongs today suited her a lot better and she travelled well and
sprinted home."
Her trainer Toby Edmonds was well pleased with the run.
"She has a high cruising speed and has had three weeks between runs, so she'll
improve a lot from that," he said.
"The Everest is her grand final, so we've left a bit in the tank."
A $105,000 Magic Millions purchase for her trainer from the Yarraman Park
draft, Houtzen was bred by the late Noel Leckie and has won five from seven
starts earning $1.5 million in prizemoney.
She is the first winner from Reset mare Set to Unleash, whose dam is a
half-sister to globe-trotting Champion 3YO Filly Sun Classique.
Houtzen is a star performer for Yarraman Park's flagship sire I Am Invincible,
who is fully booked this spring at a fee of $110,000.
Yarraman Park's Hinchinbrook featured in the very next race when flying four
year-old mare Super Too blitzed her rivals to win a round of the 55 second
Challenge over 955 metres.
The Marc Conners trained mare set the track alight with a blazing front running
effort under Blake Shinn to win as she pleased.
"I don't think I've ridden a faster filly," said Blake Shinn.
"She has sustained speed from start to finish."
The second foal of unraced Tale of the Cat (USA)
mare Tails Wins, Super Too is a half-sister to brilliant sprinter and promising
young sire Super One.
She was bred by Reg Kemister and initially failed to meet her reserve in the
ring at the 2015 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale when offered by Broadwater
Thoroughbreds.
She was later sold to Marc Conners for $25,000 and has gone on to win five of
11 starts earning over $200,000 in prizemoney.