Crystal Lily blooms in Sweet Embrace

By Mathew Toogood

SYDNEY, March 13 AAP - Brilliant filly Crystal Lily rocketed into second favouritism for the $3.5 million Golden Slipper with an emphatic win in the Group Three Sweet Embrace Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.

The Mat Ellerton and Simon Zahra-trained filly is currently not nominated for the Slipper but her three length victory in the Sweet Embrace gives her owner David Moodie plenty of reasons to consider paying the $150,000 late entry fee.

TAB Sportsbet immediately elevated the filly to $6 second favourite for the world's richest race for two-year-olds behind the John O'Shea-trained Solar Charged at $4.60.

Crystal Lily ($2.45 fav) added another dimension to her racing style by taking a sit behind leaders Dove Lake and My Amelia in the 1200m Sweet Embrace.

Damien Oliver then urged the filly between that pair after straightening and the daughter of Stratum exploded to the front to defeat Ambers Waltz ($4.60) by three lengths with Zutara ($5.50) running home out wide for third, another 1-1/4 lengths away.

"She's not one dimensional at all," Ellerton said.

"She's added another string to her bow today and we'll have to sit down and have a chat about what we do for the next three weeks.

"It's up to the owner (to pay the late entry fee) but he might be keen to pay it.

"We'll just see how she pulls up but I was very impressed with her today.

"It was her first time here in Sydney, she was a bit wayward the last 100 metres but was very impressive."

Crystal Lily has always been a natural racehorse but Ellerton believes the youngster will take plenty of improvement out of her win in the Sweet Embrace.

"She's been very independent all her life and it probably helps," he said.

"She travelled up here and hasn't left an oat. I was a bit apprehensive because she can be a bit volatile but she put her raceday head on today and did everything right.

"I would say natural improvement out of today - there'll be a fair bit there."

O'Shea already has Solar Charged at the head of Slipper betting and was pleased with Ambers Waltz's performance.

The filly has now finished second in her past four starts including the Magic Millions, Silver Slipper and Sweet Embrace.

"I thought it was an excellent run, we were just beaten by a better one on the day," O'Shea said.

"I'm happy with her, she's improving all the time and she's very consistent."

Zutara, who finished behind Chance Bye and Ambers Waltz in the Silver Slipper, again had to settle for third but her trainer Gai Waterhouse believes the filly can be competitive in the Golden Slipper.

"She's a very tough filly," Waterhouse said.

"She got caught wide with the wind but the Slipper is a race where there is a lot of speed and that will suit her down to the ground."

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