She Will Reign Takes on the Older Horses at the Valley in Moir Stakes

Written on the 29 September 2017

The Moir and Scarborough Stakes held tonight at the Valley have a couple of popular runners to watch out for.

Gary Portelli-trained She Will Reign is going up against the older horses tonight, which is a first for her.

"Because she's a Golden Slipper winner she's the hype horse but she's a couple of points shorter in the betting than what she should be," Portelli said.

"This is a big step up. It's like going from the under 18s into the first grade. She's only ever raced against two-year-olds and now she's against the older horses."

"Everything is different for her. There are some very quick horses and this is a stronger race than what she's ever faced.

"She's good enough to win for sure but she'll need to put everything together."

She Will Reign has faired unfavourably with the barrier draw and has drifted to $4.50 with Sportsbet.

Portelli's main focus is on The Everest in two weeks' time, however Portelli is looking forward to the filly running on a firm track for only the second time in her career.

"I always maintained that she gets through the wet tracks but she's so much faster on a good track," he said.

Portelli said She Will Reign had put on 40kgs since her two-year-old days and had a long build up having been in work for 120 days.

On another note, Gold Coast trainer Toby Edmunds is hoping for his three-year-old filly Houtzen to win the Scarborough Stakes, to justify starting in The Everest.

"She needs to perform on Friday night. If she wins poorly she won't be going. If she wins and smashes them then we'll be going," Edmunds said.

"She needs to put the foot down otherwise she's not going to run."

Houtzen will be reunited with Brisbane-based jockey Jeff Lloyd, who rode her in her first five starts including a win in the Magic Millions at the Gold Coast in January. Edmunds said Lloyd knows how to ride Houtzen as he knows she needs to be pushed along in the early stages.

Lloyd has been in Moonee Valley since Monday to ride her in trackwork and said she has never looked better.

(Photo: She Will Reign will once again be ridden by Kerrin McEvoy in the Moir Stakes)