Crystal Sparkles Gets Free-For-All Test
Trainer Ross Olivieri will give improving mare Crystal Sparkles a chance in mares Free-For-All company at Gloucester Park this Friday night, following her win in the WASBA Four and Five-Year-Old Pace (2130m) last Friday.
The Rocknroll Hanover mare scored a dominant 4m win in the $30,000 event, overpowering Amelias Courage in the concluding stages.
It was Crystal Sparkles best win in WA, having come across from South Australia in May.
Since that time, she has gone on to score three wins from 12 starts for Olivieri.
Olivieri said the five-year-old, a winner at 20 of 51 career starts, was starting to show her best in WA.
“She had a very good record when she came over,” he told TABradio.
“She showed a little glimpse of it when she got here.”
Olivieri said Crystal Sparkles did have to overcome a few setbacks to recapture her winning form.
“In hindsight she might have got a virus and we didn’t recognise it,” he said.
“She was unhappy and didn’t want to work or didn’t want to do anything.
“Now she’s a happy camper.
“Time has helped her and it looks like she’s back to her very best.”
Olivieri has nominated her for a fillies and mares Free-For-All this Friday night, which also features Maczaffair and Infinite Symbol.
Olivieri said he expected Crystal Sparkles to be competitive in stepping up in grade and would find out if she could make the grade going towards the summer carnival.
“Our open mares class have been decimated by sales to America,” he said.
“Some of the good mares have been retired, turned out or sold.
“It leaves that class a little short on class but that’s of advantage to her.
“I’m looking forward to Friday night as a bit of a test for her.”
Olivieri also said tough two-year-old Double Expresso was four weeks away from returning to work, having spent the past six weeks in the paddock.
Tim Walker
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