A trip too far for Houtzen as Aussie sprinter blows King's Stand start

After a seamless journey halfway around the world it was all over after just a couple of steps for Houtzen.

The Australian filly was among the outsiders for the King’s Stand Stakes having entered the stalls as a 33-1 shot. Unfortunately for her sporting connections, after exiting them she was a million to one chance.

That is because far from flying out of the gate at speed, Houtzen slipped and was down on her nose. Although quickly gathered up by jockey Kerrin McEvoy, Houtzen was unable to get properly in the race and finished eighth beaten eight and a half lengths by Blue Point.

“That’s horseracing,” a downbeat McEvoy said. “She slipped at the start and that really didn’t help her cause. She was trying to anticipate the start and jump really well, but in doing that she slipped with the ground being wet.

“Things were massively against her after that and they were always just a little bit too far away. I was pleased with what she was able to do given she was up against it.”

It proved to be a first Royal Ascot runner to forget for trainer Toby Edmonds and owners Aquis Farm & Partners, but McEvoy hopes they will not be put off returning to Britain again.

He said: “It’s been a great learning experience for them and you have to give them loads of credit for coming over and trying it.

“Hopefully they won’t be put off and will come back when they have another suitable horse in the future.”

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