Houtzen flies the flag for Gold Coast in Magic Millions 2YO Classic

FLYING Gold Coast filly Houtzen is on the cusp of achieving something only inaugural winner Snippets has done in the event’s history.

Gold Coast trainer Toby Edmonds (left) with Houtzen and jockey Jeff Lloyd (right). Picture: Grant Peters, Trackside Photography

FLYING Gold Coast filly Houtzen is on the cusp of achieving something only inaugural winner Snippets has done in the event’s history.

Toby Edmonds, Jeff Lloyd and Houtzen could become the second all-Gold Coast trainer, jockey and horse combination to win the $2 million feature race if all goes to plan today.

Former trainer Sally Rogers, jockey Phillip Smith – who was based on the Coast at the time of the 1987 win, and Snippets are the only all-Gold Coast team to win so far.

Edmonds said sharing a win with Lloyd would be cherished.

“It would be a dream come true, really,” Edmonds said.

“He (Lloyd) is a good part of our stable and we will stick by him whenever we can.”

It will be up to Lloyd to steer the unbeaten Houtzen ($3.50) from the outside barrier.

Winning the Classic would complete an astonishing journey for the 55-year-old who suffered a stroke at the Sunshine Coast races in 2013.

Lloyd said he was as surprised as anyone by how much success he has been able to have after the incident but revealed the biggest challenge was convincing others he was still up to the task.

“I always felt I would be able to ride again and get back to where I was,” Lloyd said.

“I never had any doubts about that. Once I got on a horse straight away I felt age was nothing.

“I felt comfortable and balanced again. It was probably more about convincing other people than convincing myself.”

It has been an impressive 12 months for the former South African jockey who has ridden Group 1 winners in his home country, Hong Kong, Singapore and Australia, including the 2008 ATC Derby.

Lloyd won the Brisbane jockeys premiership last season, nearly 40 years after he had his first ride in the mid-1970s.

He also rode a record seven winners on the Sunshine Coast in November.

Lloyd said it wasn’t any drastic changes to his riding or fitness that led to his success but rather the opportunities as trainers put their trust back in the veteran.

“I’m just riding really well and getting a lot of opportunities,” Lloyd said.

“I do feel very comfortable at the moment in my saddle and horses feel that. When you’re riding well you seem to make the right choices but it’s very hard to change something at this age. It’s more important to keep myself in good shape.”

Forty minutes before Houtzen’s race, Lloyd will ride the unbeaten Winning Rupert in the $2 million Magic Millions 3YO Guineas.

Edmonds was one of Lloyd’s biggest supporters following his health scare and still holds enormous respect for the leading rider.

“He has won 5000 races worldwide in his career ,” Edmonds said.

“He is a champion rider and held in high regard everywhere.

“He is a great guy, very professional, does his form well and rides good. He is everything we need in a stable rider.”

Gold Coast Turf Club chairman Brett Cook said a Houtzen win today would be well deserved, especially for Edmonds who has a winning strike rate of 26 per cent this season.

“It would be fantastic for the Gold Coast and its trainers,” Cook said.

“Toby’s strike rate is exceptional. The last 18 months in particular he has gone out and bought some good horses, syndicated them and put in a lot of work behind the scenes so the rewards are starting to show for him.”