Impeccably bred colt Crystal Web scored a perfect 10 for his dam Crystal Snip when he defied an alarming betting drift to land an impressive debut win at Sandown.
Crystal Web, a son of first season sire Hard Spun, is the tenth winner from 10 foals to race for Crystal Snip whose most famous offspring is the ill-fated 2010 Golden Slipper winner Crystal Lily.
Amaethon and Crystal Wit are Crystal Snip’s other stakes winners and there is every chance Crystal Web will eventually join them.
Despite his pedigree the colt eased from $4.60 to $10 for Wednesday’s Dream Thoroughbreds Handicap (1000m).
After beginning brilliantly, he was tenacious to the line to score by three-quarters of a length.
Other first starters Union Gap ($21), a son of Elusive Quality trained by Anthony Freedman, and Mick Price-trained Stratum colt Rock Strata ($2.50 fav) finished second and third respectively.
Mathew Ellerton, who co-trains Crystal Web with Simon Zahra, said he hadn’t expected the youngster to win but was pleased with how quickly he jumped from the gates and fought out the race.
“He’s a nice horse but he’s not there yet,” Ellerton said.
“He began well today but that was a bit of nervous energy.
“It was the first time he has had a trip away from home but he fought on well for a horse who isn’t switched on and hasn’t got the race smarts just yet.”
Ellerton, who trained Crystal Snip as well as all of her progeny, likened Crystal Web to Amaethon at the same age.
“He (Crystal Web) is still a skinny, ugly, leggy looking horse right now but he will benefit from the race experience,” Ellerton said.
Jockey Chris Symons said Crystal Web was a talented youngster with a good future.
“I was always confident,” Symons said.
“He has done everything right at home and he jumped brilliantly.
“I had to push the button a bit early just so I could get across a few inside me and get close to the fence but he travelled beautifully.
“He still doesn’t know what he’s doing but it was only his first go at it and I think he will make a better three-year-old.”
Crystal Snip has a yearling filly by Stratum to come while her last foal, also by Stratum, died.
