The traditional Golden Slipper lead-ups, the Group II Todman Stakes and Group II Reisling Stakes at Randwick, take centre stage on Saturday. However, with the big wet in Sydney, we will head south to Flemington for an intriguing VRC Foundation Plate (1000m), where over half of the ten runners have yet to face the starter.
Among them is the Mathew Ellerton-trained Crystalist.
A homebred for David Moodie, the son of Capitalist races for Moodie's Hesket Bloodstock, Spendthrift Australia and MyRacehorse.
Remarkably, Crystalist had two jumpouts four days apart. He missed the start and worked home nicely when fifth at his first outing on February 14.
Ellerton must have felt the son of Capitalist had it too easy because he headed to Flemington for an 800m jumpout on February 18, and Crystalist put a space on them.
Crystalist is the fourth foal of the Stratum mare Crystal Ruby, a sister to Golden Slipper heroine Crystal Lily, who also won the AJC Sweet Embrace Stakes, MRC Blue Diamond Preview and Listed MRC Chairman's Stakes.
Crystal Lily was runner-up at the highest level in the VRC Newmarket, MVRC William Reid Stakes and SAJC The Goodwood Handicap.
Tragically, Crystal Lily's life was cut short when she collapsed and died while competing in a jump out at Flemington.
Crystal Ruby was not in her sister's class winning races at Warracknabeal and Swan Hill in a 13-stat career.
Her first foal Crystal Beau (Brazen Beau), was second at Morphettville on debut, then sadly broke down and was euthanised in a 2yo race at Moonee valley won by the future Everest hero Yes Yes Yes.
Second foal Spiriting (Written Tycoon) won one of three starts before being covered by Spirit Of Boom last spring.
Third foal Crystal Vain has a win, a second and a third from five starts and recently finished third over 1300m at Sandown-Hillside on January 22.
Crystal Ruby is the penultimate foal of David Moodie's exceptional broodmare Crystal Snip. The daughter of Snippets had a perfect record of twelve winners from as many foals.
Four of those were stakes winners, Crystal Lily, Amaethon (Al Maher), Crystal Web (Hard Spun) and Crystal Wit (Distorted Humor).
Another daughter, the Caulfield winner Crystal Sprite (Hurricane Sky), is the dam of the Group II MVRC Bill Stutt Stakes winner Carrara (Elvstroem).
Crystal Wit has begun a dynasty of her own as the dam of stakes-winner Crystal Dreamer (Stratum) and stakes-placed Fast Talker (Fastnet Rock), and the granddam of stakes-winners Persuader (Zoustar), The Actuary (Sebring) and stakes-placed Deep Speed (Deep Field) and The Astrologer (Star Turn).
This is an old Widden Stud family dating back to the Brueghel mare Hecuba, a half-sister to the Widden Stud immortal Ajax and the dam of 1949 AJC Champagne Stakes winner Lady Pirouette, dam of Kilshery (QTC Stradbroke, MRC Oakleigh Plate, ATC Canterbury Guineas, All Aged Stakes (twice)).
Crystalist is a descendant of Lady Pirouette's half-sister Snow Lily, the dam of AJC Flight Stakes and VATC Sandown Guineas winner Snowing (Vain).
Crystal Ruby has a weanling colt by Lonhro and was one of 201 mares covered by Flying Artie last spring.
Capitalist could be in for a big day at Flemington. Those that witnessed the unbelievable win of his unbeaten son Shadow Devil at Gosford will be keen to back up on the Mark Newnham-trained colt in the $750,000 Inglis Sprint.
