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Sentimental Win for Crystal Lily Brother

25th Sep 2011

Breednet - Tara Madgwick - Saturday, 24 September 2011

The highs and lows of racing were highlighted at Caulfield on Saturday when the Listed MRC Testa Rossa Stakes was won by five year-old gelding Amaethon, a half-brother to ill-fated Golden Slipper winner Crystal Lily, who died tragically on Friday morning.

Trained Matt Ellerton and Simon Zahra, who also prepared his famous sibling, Amaethon produced the best run of his career to power home and win the 1200 metre spring by more than a length at his first run back from a spell.

"I suppose it's a bit ironic, he's a half-brother to her (Crystal Lily),” an emotional Ellerton said.

"I thought Chris (Symons) got a pair too far back in the run but he ended up winning really well.”

The co-trainer said the galloper had returned in fine fettle and he would aim the horse at a race during the Melbourne Cup carnival.

"He looks stronger and more robust than ever,” he said.

"We'll head towards cup week with him and see if we can sneak into a handicap.”

Bred by David and Jenny Moodie's Contract Racing, Amaethon (pictured as a yearling) was sent to the 2008 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale under the Swettenham Stud banner, but was passed in shy of his $120,000 reserve and retained to race with partners.

The son of Al Maher (pictured) has won four races and placed nine times from 21 starts earning jus short of $300,000 in prizemoney.

He is one of eight winners from Crystal Snip and is her third stakes-winner joining Crystal Lily and Crystal Wit.

Crystal Snip has a two year-old colt by Hard Spun (USA) called Crystal Web, a yearling sister to Crystal Lily by Stratum and is due to foal to that sire again.

Amaethon was one of two stakes-winners on Saturday for Emirates Park based Al Maher, whose five year-old son King Lionheart won the Group II ATC Shannon Stakes at Rosehill.

Al Maher has 10 stakes-winners to his credit and stands at a fee of $24,200.