When your sister is a Golden Slipper winner there's a lot for a young horse to live up to on the racetrack.

That's the burden for two-year-old Crystal Ruby who starts her career in the Procal Dairies Handicap (1000m) at Caulfield on Saturday as she follows in the footsteps of big sister Crystal Lily.

Crystal Ruby, trained by Matt Ellerton and Simon Zahra at Flemington, has inherited her family's speed and it seems she's not frightened to use it from the barriers.

But Zahra says she is not as mature - mentally or physically - as her ill-fated sister was at a comparative age.

Crystal Lily, also prepared by the successful training partnership, was heading towards the main sprint races during the 2011 spring carnival when she collapsed and died on the training track.

"It's hard to live up to her sister but she is doing everything right although she's just a bit weaker than Crystal Lily at the same stage," Zahra said.

He said the stable was expecting Crystal Ruby to take a little longer to develop so they won't be pushing her too hard.

"We will just see how she goes on Saturday but I think we'll see the best of her in the autumn," Zahra said.

In a wide-open race, Crystal Ruby is a $7 chance behind the $4.40 equal favourites Miss Steele and Monkstone.