Choice Of 3 Venues For Houtzen

Houtzen working on Saturday with Jeff Lloyd. Photo credit Ross Stevenson
Houtzen working on Saturday with Jeff Lloyd. Photo credit Ross Stevenson

The weather will determine which of three venues Golden Slipper second favourite Houtzen runs at this weekend.

Houtzen will be having her first run since winning the Magic Millions Two-Year-Old Classic on January 14.

She is an acceptor for the two-year-old race at Eagle Farm on Saturday and also the Reisling Stakes at Randwick.

If she runs in Brisbane she will have to carry 63kg and start from barrier 11 while she has gate five and 55.5kg in Sydney.

The final acceptances for the Black Opal Stakes in Canberra are on Thursday and Houzten will be among them.

Edmonds said the Brisbane race was his preference but the weather would play a major role with Sydney also wet.

“I obviously don’t want to run on a heavy track with 63 kilograms. She will accept for all three centres and then I will have to monitor the weather,” Edmonds said.

Jeff Lloyd has been declared to ride Houtzen in Brisbane.

“We had talked about claiming but in the end Jeff said after her work at Doomben last Saturday he would ride her and win,” Edmonds said.

“She has had a good preparation but it is what it is where we decide to start.”

Houtzen would leave for Sydney on Wednesday night if Edmonds decided to run at Randwick but if she was to run in Canberra her departure could be delayed another 24 hours.

By Mark Oberhardt

BRISBANE, March 1 AAP

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