Golden Slipper winner Crystal Lily could face the tough task of running against the unbeaten Black Caviar first-up this season in the $750,000 Group 1 Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on February 19 after storms in Melbourne saw Saturday’s Caulfield race meet abandoned.
Classy Stratum filly Crystal Lily, who has not been seen on the tracks since her disappointing 11th in the Group 1 Golden Rose at Rosehill on August 28 where she injured her back and hock, was engaged to resume racing in the $100,000 Listed W.J. Adams Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield last Saturday.
However racing at Caulfield, as well as a number of other Victorian tracks, was cancelled due to heavy rainfall.
While features including the Chairman’s Stakes and Manfred Stakes have been transferred to Betfair Park Sandown Hillside on Wednesday, the W.J. Adams Stakes has not been rescheduled.
Connections including co-trainers Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra are now facing the dilemma of deciding what will be the first-up assignment for Crystal Lily.
One possibility is the $125,000 Group 3 Rubiton Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield this Saturday, February 12, where fellow W.J. Adams Stakes rival Reward For Effort is expected to run.
However, the 2011 Lightning Stakes is also being considered.
Peter Moody’s flying mare Black Caviar and the mighty Hay List are both expected to resume in the Lightning Stakes.
A decision by connections on running Crystal Lily in the Rubiton will be made later in the week.
The first Group 1 race of the season headlines the racing action at Caulfield this Saturday with the $400,000 Group 1 C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m).
Want the best odds on all the autumn races? Avoid the TAB and get a better price every time at premier online bookie Luxbet!
