Co-trainers Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra will persist with jump-and-run tactics with Crystal Lily in another showdown with unbeaten mare Black Caviar in the Group One William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley.
The reigning Golden Slipper winner produced one of her career highlights when adopting the high-rolling racing style when she finished second to the world’s highest-rated sprinter in the Group One Newmarket Hcp (1200m) last start at Flemington.
And the stable is hopeful that with improved fitness she can make more of a race of it on Friday night.
“Last start everything went to plan and the last 100 metres was probably the best part of her race,” Zahra said.
“She really hit the line strongly and had a good blow afterwards.
“She has come through the race really well and improved a bit.”
The stable believed that it had erred with a more passive approach with Crystal Lily at her previous start when she stalked Black Caviar in the Group One Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington and finished fifth.
Stephen Baster rode the three-year-old filly in the Newmarket and has retained the mount at the Valley.
Zahra said Crystal Lily could have run in the Group One Sportingbet Classic against fillies and mares in Adelaide on Saturday, but staying home for the 1200-metre William Reid was a better option with a view to heading to Sydney next month.
“We don’t want to be travelling over there (Adelaide) and back, and then up to Sydney,” Zahra said.
“We are not running scared of her (Black Caviar).
“We are all probably running for second again but you never know, she (Black Caviar) might find trouble around the Valley,” Zahra added with faint optimism.
Meanwhile, trainer Peter Moody does not envisage any problems with Black Caviar making it 11 straight wins under the weight-for-age conditions of the $500,000 William Reid.
And he intends to stick to his plans to take her to Sydney by road for the $1 million TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on April 9.
After that she would return to Melbourne before being flown to Brisbane for two races, the BTC Cup (1200m) at Doomben on May 14 and the Doomben 10,000 (1350m) on May 28.
However he poured cold water on the idea of meeting More Joyous in the All-Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on April 23 as he said the race had never been on her program.
He said flying Black Caviar to and from Queensland would be to give her experience with a view to taking the four-year-old overseas to race next season, possibly in Hong Kong in December.
But before her interstate campaign, the mare must overcome eight rivals, including stablemates Hinchinbrook, Master Harry and Panipique, in Friday night’s feature sprint.
Black Caviar is still $1.10 favourite with TAB Sportsbet ahead of Crystal Lily and Master Harry at $16, True Persuasion at $31, Panipique at $35 and Hinchinbrook at $41.
AAP TURF
