With the absence of champion racer Hay List, trainers Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra are confident that Crystal Lily is the one to beat in the Group 1 The Goodwood this Sunday May 8.
Ellerton is thrilled that Crystal Lily will get her chance to shine without the presence of Hay List or super mare Black Caviar for the first time this preparation.
“It’s a good feeling to go there thinking the others have to worry about us, instead of us having to worry about Black Caviar and Hay List,” he said.
The trainer was incredibly disappointed with Crystal Lily’s last start run in the TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick last month, where the former Golden Slipper winner finished seventh.
Ellerton was concerned that the constant defeat behind the world’s best racehorse, Black Caviar, has caused her to give up on herself.
“On face value she was disappointing, and initially I was worried she’d given up chasing after trying so hard behind Black Caviar so many times,” Ellerton said.
“I was actually relieved to find out she had a bit of a problem and was sore in her right hind quarter.”
Ellerton feels that if she can bring her game, Crystal Lily will be the main danger in The Goodwood field this Sunday.
“A lot will depend on the weather, but if she turns up in her Newmarket or William Reid form, which I think she can, she’s going to be very hard to beat in the Goodwood.”
Top trainer Mark Kavanagh is among those who think Crystal Lily will be difficult to beat.
“She’s going to be mighty hard to get past,” Kavanagh said.
Kavanagh is more confident of his horse, Shrapnel’s, chances in The Goodwood now that it has been confirmed that Hay List will not run, but he is still wary of Crystal Lily.
“This (Goodwood) is a better race without Hay List in it – well, certainly a better betting proposition for punters – but (Crystal Lily’s) the one to treat seriously,” he said.
Crystal Lily has won four of her 13 career starts and has finished second to the mighty Black Caviar on two of their four meetings.