Day 4 of Glorious Goodwood in England Friday night Aussie time, and well, an Aussie showed up well.
Our really good Queensland mare HOUTZEN (I Am Invincible-Set To Unleash) ran her heart out in the Gr 2 King George Stakes over 1000m to grab 2nd behind world class sprinter BATTAASH who was the 4s on favourite.
Houtzen started 16/1.
Battaash (Dark Angel-Anna Law) the winner of 9 races and 5 placings now from 18 starts including winning the Gr 1 Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp, is a 1000m European superstar.
This was his 3rd King George Stakes win, but his trainer Charlie Hills was mightily impressed and complimentary of the Aussie raider.
“My word she gave us a scare. I’ll have to keep an eye out for Houtzen because she was really coming hard here and no doubt we will race her again next start.”
Indeed, when you are the 1-4 fav, to dash clear with 200m to go and look the likely easy winner, is a concern when one storms from the back and gets within half a length on the line.
That’s what Houtzen did.
With Ryan Moore riding, she settled near the rear yet stormed home, re-establishing that Aussie sprinters are world class and should be respected.
The pair broke right away from the rest of the field with ORNATE (Bahamian Bounty-Adorn) in 3rd. Ornate has now been 3 x Group placed in 1000m European sprints.
But Houtzen, who is now trained in England, continues to be the great success story.
She was passed-in as a weanling when only $55,000 was offered for her.
She did sell to Toby Edmonds as a yearling for $110,000 and now has won over $2.2million in stakes.
