Trainer Mathew Ellerton believes he may have cost exciting filly Crystal Lily last week's Blue Diamond Stakes.Ellerton said that in hindsight the Stratum filly probably should have run in the fillies Blue Diamond Prelude to take the edge off her two weeks before the Diamond.He made his observation after watching Crystal Lily begin rocket-like and lead all the way in Saturday's Listed Chairman's Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield.Ellerton said Crystal Lily was a different filly to last week when she ran

Trainer Mathew Ellerton believes he may have cost exciting filly Crystal Lily last week's Blue Diamond Stakes.

Ellerton said that in hindsight the Stratum filly probably should have run in the fillies Blue Diamond Prelude to take the edge off her two weeks before the Diamond.

He made his observation after watching Crystal Lily begin rocket-like and lead all the way in Saturday's Listed Chairman's Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield.

Ellerton said Crystal Lily was a different filly to last week when she ran sixth in the Diamond.

"Maybe we made a blue not running in her prelude," Ellerton said.

"She definitely looked better today than she did last Saturday."

Jockey Brett Prebble agreed.

Prebble picked up the ride on Crystal Lily after Ellerton and his training partner Simon Zahra found he would be in Melbourne to ride former Hong Kong galloper Dao Dao in Saturday's Futurity Stakes.

Prebble said the improvement in Crystal Lily was obvious from a week ago when he rode Evidentia in the Blue Diamond.

"It definitely would have been better had she run before the Diamond as she was a little bit crazy on the day, but today she was bombproof," Prebble said.

He declared Crystal Lily an outstanding filly of the future and with the scope to be a brilliant miler.

"She is a Group One filly for sure," Prebble said.

"She has a beautiful, big scope about her and it is just her mentality at the moment that makes her look like a sprinter.

"Once she settles a touch I guaranteed she will run a mile (1600m)."

Crystal Lily was heavily backed from $2.50 to $2.20 favouritism and was never going to get beaten on Saturday.

Despite her wide draw she was able to lead easily and extended her margin in the straight to score by 4-3/4 lengths from Bedhrah and Rock Of Fortune.

Prebble, who has ridden more than 400 winners in Hong Kong, had his last Melbourne win on the David Hayes-trained Acosta on Oaks day at Flemington in 2008.

Crystal Lily's win was her second in five starts after landing the fillies Blue Diamond Preview in January.

Ellerton said her next target would be Listed Festival Of Racing Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on March 13.

He said that the Golden Slipper Stakes on April 3 was not an option for the filly.