Racing: Big slippers to be filled

Crystal Lily won almost A$2.7 million prize money during her 15-start career. Photo / Thinkstock

Crystal Ruby has the bloodlines to win juvenile races and she has a chance to make a successful start to her career at Sandown today.

The full-sister to ill-fated Golden Slipper winner Crystal Lily steps out for the first time in the Swettenham Stud Dash For Cash over 900m.

Co-trainer Simon Zahra said the athletic filly is "no Crystal Lily" but has been doing everything right at home.

"She jumps and is quite a quick," Zahra, who trains in partnership with Mathew Ellerton, said yesterday.

"She's no Crystal Lily but she's a really nice filly."

Crystal Lily won almost A$2.7 million prize money during her 15-start career, which included victory in the 2010 Golden Slipper.

She tragically collapsed and died in a jumpout at Flemington in the spring of 2011.

Zahra said the full-sisters were "totally opposite" as Crystal Lily was a bay filly and Crystal Ruby was a chestnut.

Crystal Ruby is one of seven first starters in the eight-horse field at Sandown today.

"She's quick, but there are a lot of unknowns with a heap of first starters in there," Zahra said.

Ellerton and Zahra also have Pin Your Hopes and Lingo engaged at Sandown, while their team for Flemington on Saturday includes Crystal Ruby's 3-year-old half-brother Crystal Web who runs in the Listed MSS Security Stakes (1100m).

Lightly-raced 3-year-old Pin Your Hopes resumed with a 2-length win at Kyneton last month over 1112m and steps up to 1400m in the Catanach's Jewellers Handicap.

"He's a really nice, progressive staying horse," Zahra said.

"He's struck a pretty hot field and has drawn an awkward barrier in 11. Hopefully, he can make the next step."

-AAP