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The Gold Coast flyer Houtzen bounced back to her best with a gritty on pace Group 3 victory.

Find out what the jockeys made of their horses’ runs in the Group 3 PJ Bell Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick.

Glyn Schofield (Houtzen): “She was very brave, the pace was very very strong she stalked it and took over like she was going to win easily.

“When she got challenged I felt she was going to give up but in the back of my mind she reminded me of what she did two weeks ago when she fought strongly.

“Credit to Toby (Edmonds) because he told me she would take a bit of improvement from her first run and he was spot on.’’

Houtzen staves off the challengers in a blanket finish to the PJ Bell Stakes at Royal Randwick

Damian Lane (Manicure): “She ran great, I expected the on-pacers to fold up a little bit but they kept going a strong gallop, she was gallant to the line.”

Robbie Fradd (Problem Solver): “It was a great run, probably a better gate and we get a softer run and I think that was the difference. In saying that she dug really deep and ran a great race.”

Kerrin Mcevoy (Catchy): “We copped a bit of interference at the start and then we were a long way back. Ducking/weaving looking for runs and just didn’t have the luck today.”

Jason Collett (Frolic): “She ran on well but just giving them too big a start.”

Tye Angland (Banish): “Good run just had no luck.”

Craig Williams (Demerara): “Was able to take up a really nice position from a great draw, I thought she did a great job only to be narrowly beaten. She’s been well placed all the way through and it was great to see her run so well in a high grade race on the first day of the Championships. It was a great effort.”

Adam Hyeronimus (Debonairly): “She ran well, a much improved effort from her last run but that’s probably as good as she can go.”

Damien Oliver (She's So High): “I was happy enough with the run, I thought the speed was quite genuine, when I pulled out at the top of the straight I expected her to run over the top of them but they just kept running off the front so it made it a bit difficult to make ground but she’s gone well and with a month between runs I think she can take good improvement.”

Michael Walker (Charlayne): “Really nice horse she gave me a nice feel, I think she’s going to make the grade, probably just not yet but she’s nice.”

Sam Clipperton (Sweet Deal): “Great run, she just missed it a head from out in the carpark. Had to go way too far back as a result, but she went well and she’ll run well next start.”

Brenton Avdulla (Dyslexic): “Ran terrific, didn’t draw well, we got stuck three and four deep with cover and she found the line well.”

Houtzen back to her best with a tough win in the @TheManShake PJ Bell with a dead heat between Manicure and Problem Solver for second pic.twitter.com/qM2FIGT4Ex

— The Championships (@ChampionshipsRR) April 7, 2018

Check out the replays and results for Day 1 of The Championships at Royal Randwick