CAUL JAN 26 - CRYSTAL LILY DOMINATES 2YO FILLIES

By Scott Gooley | Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Caulfield January 26, 2010.
Track - Dead 4. Rail - Out 9m.
Blue Diamond Preview (2yo Fillies - Set Weights - Listed) - 1000m.
Time 56.84 (Class record). (Carrying 54kg).
1 Crystal Lily, 2 Shaaheq, 3 Warm Love.

Having her third start, her first since November 2009, Crystal Lily returned to racing with a dominant win in the Arrowfield Blue Diamond Preview for fillies.

From the inside gate, Crystal Lily ($6.00) flew out when the starter let them go and was leading comfortably shortly after the start.

Halfway through the race, the daughter of Golden Slipper winner Stratum, lead Warm Love by three quarters of a length and was setting a solid pace in the process.

Turning for home Jockey Chris Symons had a good hold of Crystal Lily and upon straightening, the pair had established a length lead that began to widen with each stride.

With 100m to run, Crystal Lily had established a sizeable lead and won easing up by three lengths in a Class Record time of 0-56.84. That was three quarters of second quicker than the Colts and Gelding’s division.

Shaaheq ($5.50) ran second for trainer David Hayes, who also trained second placed Marmaa in Colts and Geldings division, with Warm Love ($26.00) holding on well for third, a further one and half lengths away.

“She’s only small but has a lot of ability and a big heart” surmised Symons upon his return to scale.

“The break has done her the world of good. She’s had a couple of jump-outs and she’s come back a better horse.” Symons concluded.

Winning Trainer Matt Ellerton summed up his filly’s effort simply, yet perfectly ... “It’s pretty impressive.”

“I said to David (owner David Moodie) that I think she’s improved markedly on the spring. She was pretty much a raw product then.” Ellerton continued.

“I thought she looked to be running through the bridal a bit but, I think she was just going comfortably.”

“I was quietly confident that she made the necessary improvement both physically and mentally.”

“She showed that she’s come back a real racehorse.”

Crystal Lily will now go straight into the Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield on the February 20.

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Crystal Lily): 8.00 to 6.00.
Equal favourite (Shaaheq): 4.60 out to 5.50. Finished second.
Equal favourite (Shes Got Gears): 4.60 out to 5.50. Finished sixth.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
She’s Got Gears underwent a veterinary examination after it arrived on course when it was noted that the filly had a bandage to the off hind leg. The Club’s veterinary surgeon established that She’s Got Gears had some stitches to the off hind leg however was satisfied that the filly was fit to run.

Subsequently trainer Mr R Laing was questioned and he explained that the filly had two stitches as a result of an incident when the filly was being swum two week ago and as a result did miss two days work. He added that She’s Got Gears had pleased him with her work since then, particularly her last gallop on Thursday January 21.

Stewards did advise Mr Laing that in similar circumstances he is obligated under the rules to advise Stewards of any condition that may affect a horse’s performance.

Crystal Lily which was fractious in the barriers was removed and underwent a veterinary examination and subsequently passed fit to run.

Shaaheq shifted out at the start and bumped Extremis. Roulettes jumped away awkwardly and made heavy contact with the hindquarters of Placement (NZ). Cymbal also jumped away awkwardly. Also at the start She’s Got Gears, Warm Love and Koala Bear were crowded for room between Crystal Lily and Novaspirit both of which shifted ground.

Novaspirit and Bingo Betty raced wide without cover. Rounding the home turn She’s Got Gears hung out.

J Winks (Placement (NZ)) was issued with a reprimand for permitting his mount to shift out rounding the home turn just prior to the 300m when not fully clear of Extremis which had to be steadied to avoid heels.

She’s Got Gears continued to hang out in the straight and in doing so inconvenienced Placement (NZ) passing the 300m. C Williams was unable to ride She’s Got Gears out in his normal manner.

Rounding the home turn Shaaheq was unable to improve its position when held up behind Warm Love and to the inside of Novaspirit before gaining clear running approaching the 200m.

Space Diva hung out rounding the home turn and in the straight. Approaching the 100m Placement (NZ) had to be steadied to avoid the heels of She’s Got Gears when it was hanging out.

C Williams rider of She’s Got Gears was advised to exercise more care and no direct action was taken given the filly’s racing matters. C Williams reported at scale that She’s Got Gears was inclined to hang out during the event. A subsequent veterinary examination of the filly revealed no abnormalities.

Post race veterinary examinations of Bingo Betty and Magic of Emma revealed both fillies to be mildly shin sore.