Golden Slipper Stakes winner Crystal Lily will return from injury as favourite in the Listed WJ Adams Stakes, but with only cautious optimism from her stable.The three-year-old hasn't raced since her spring campaign was cut short with hock and back soreness but co-trainers Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra have given her a perfect preparation to launch her autumn campaign in Saturday's 1000-metre feature at Caulfield.Ellerton said he was respectful of Saturday's opposition and is expecting the 14
Golden Slipper Stakes winner Crystal Lily will return from injury as favourite in the Listed WJ Adams Stakes, but with only cautious optimism from her stable.
The three-year-old hasn't raced since her spring campaign was cut short with hock and back soreness but co-trainers Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra have given her a perfect preparation to launch her autumn campaign in Saturday's 1000-metre feature at Caulfield.
Ellerton said he was respectful of Saturday's opposition and is expecting the 14 runners to provide a torrid speed test.
"She's had a had a good preparation but we are not expecting to just to turn up and win," Ellerton said.
"It is not going to be a soda. It looks like an Oakleigh Plate preview sort of race."
Damien Oliver will ride Crystal Lily who opened on Wednesday at $4 with TAB Sportsbet and whose task has been made more difficult with the outside barrier.
Just inside her is dual Group One placegetter and $9 chance Eagle Falls (gate 13), 2009 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Reward For Effort (gate 12, $5.50) and talented Group performers Winter King (10, $8) and Solar Charged (nine, $5.50).
They will ensure a hot contest along with emerging speedster Faster Son ($8) from barrier five.
"The pressure will be on from the outset but hopefully she can acquit herself well," Ellerton said.
While nominated for the Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on March 5, Crystal Lily's autumn goal is the Group One Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on February 26.
A more detailed program would be mapped out after her first-up run.
"We will really be guided by what she does on Saturday," Ellerton said.
The winner of four of her nine starts, Crystal Lily's only run beyond 1200m was inconclusive in the 1400-metre Group One Golden Rose last spring.
After finishing second to Panipique in the Listed Quezette Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield in August, she pulled up sore from a buffeting in the Golden Rose after finishing 11th and was immediately spelled.