TOBY Edmonds’ decision to use Brisbane as the key lead-up for Houtzen’s Golden Slipper campaign may look like a masterstroke after the weekend, with wild weather threatening to play havoc with her Sydney rivals.
Houtzen has also accepted for the Reisling Stakes in Sydney on Saturday and will be paid up for Sunday’s Black Opal Stakes in Canberra, but Eagle Farm is the most probable location for her appearance this weekend.
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Houtzen has to carry a modern record of 63kg to win at Eagle Farm but it is shaping as a more desirable option than Sydney, where the track seems certain to be heavy, if the races go ahead. The forecast for Sydney is 20mm of rain each day until Sunday.
If Sydney is washed out, the Black Opal will be one of the hottest ever and a far tougher test for Houtzen first-up over 1200m than the 1000m scamper at Eagle Farm.
Jeff Lloyd said on Wednesday he could not recall riding a horse with 63kg, but he has the heavy lead bags at the ready.
Houtzen is likely to race at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Picture: Grant PetersSource:Supplied
“It’s a lot of weight for any horse to carry, let alone a two-year-old,” Lloyd said. “You just don’t know how much it might take out of her. I just hope she gets out of it in good shape.
“It’s not ideal, but I do think the best option is to stay in Brisbane. You wouldn’t want her going down there and running first-up over 1200m on a bog track, which is not what you want for any horse going into a big race.”
If Randwick is washed out, horses like Menari, Chauffeur, From Within and Jukebox could go to Canberra, as they are all among the Opal nominations.
Randwick also hosts the Group 1 Guineas and Canterbury Stakes this weekend and contingency options include transferring the meeting to next Monday or Wednesday.
Gary Portelli, trainer of Slipper favourite She Will Reign (who is not nominated for Canberra) is not concerned by the prospect of a wet track, but is desperate to have a final lead-up.
“As long as they run the race at some stage, I’m not worried,” Portelli said. “If they were washed out altogether that would present a problem and I would probably have to trial her, because I’m not keen to race her a week out from the Slipper.
“Hopefully they will get the race run, be it Saturday or a couple of days later. It looks like it might be a Slipper run on a soft track, so it’s nice to know my filly has no problems in it.’’
Originally published as Wet weather trips up Slipper plans
