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Dream Week For First Light Racing

3 minute read

Lonhro filly Aristia completed a dream week for syndicators First Light Racing with her breakthrough Group One win in the VRC Kennedy Oaks at Flemington on November 8.

Matt Ellerton and Damien Lane with the Oaks trophy
Matt Ellerton and Damien Lane with the Oaks trophy Picture: Racing and Sports

After a run of frustrating results that included being placed on debut at Moonee Valley, second in the G3 National Stakes at Morphettville and second in the G3 Ethereal Stakes at Caulfield, Aristia came of age as the filly of the spring with her Wakeful Stakes-Oaks double during Melbourne Cup week.

Aristia wins the Oaks
Aristia wins the Oaks Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

Aristia backed up from her win in the G2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) last Saturday to outstay her rivals in the Oaks (2500m) and give First Light Racing its biggest success since the syndication company was formed in 2010.

First Light, co-founded by Tom Wilson, purchased Aristia (Lonhro x Nakaaya by Tiger Hill) in partnership with their foundation trainers Matt Ellerton and Simon Zahra and leading bloodstock agent, Paul Willetts for $80,000 at the 2017 Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

"It's pretty surreal to be honest," Wilson said. "Seven days ago, she was a maiden, and now we’ve won a Group 2 and a Group 1."

“Paul Willetts, Mathew Ellerton and First Light looked over every yearling at the 2017 Easter sale and full marks to Mathew because he was the one really keen to buy this filly.

“Mathew has a real affinity with the Lonhros so he convinced us to buy the filly and we’re all very glad he did!”

Tom Wilson said there are 36 shareholders in the ownership of Aristia who has now won twice from 11 starts with another five placings for prize-money of $876,550.

Greg Perry, who bred the filly and sold her through the Vinery Stud draft, kept a share while the others are made up of 5% and 10% shares.

When Aristia won the Wakeful Stakes she became the 78th individual stakes winner for her sire Lonhro, and become his 11th G1 winner with her Oaks victory.

Lonhro’s other elite level winners include Pierro, Impending, Exosphere, Denman and Kementar but Aristia is the first classic (Derby/Oaks) winner for the con of Octagonal.

Lonhro also sired the two Group winners on Derby Day at Flemington when Rainer won the G3 Carbine Club Stakes and Osborne Bulls took out the G2 TAB Stakes.

Aristia wins the Oaks
Aristia wins the Oaks Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

Aristia is a half sister to two winners from the G2 winning mare, Nakaaya, who also has an I Am Invincible 2YO filly a Written Tycoon yearling colt and filly foal by Flying Artie.

Her breeder Greg Perry also bred 4-time G1 winner Atlantic Jewel and sold an I Am Invincible colt for $1.45 million at the Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale in January.

Nakaaya was bought at the 2008 Melbourne Yearling Sale for $60,000 by Perry's good friend Cliff Brown and won five times from 12 starts for Mick Price including the G2 Sunline Stakes.

Aristia’s second dam Duchess Talaria (Marwina) was a juvenile winner who was successful up to 1900 metres and she was also a half sister to the Listed winner Sir Amadi (Maizcay).

Aristia is the first G1 winner for Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra in seven years and their first at Flemington.

"Getting a feature staying winner has been one of those things we wanted to add to our CV," Zahra said.

"Today we have proven we can train a stayer and win good races with them, so it’s been an important win."
Racing and Sports

Flemington

Thursday, 08th November 2018

8
17:00
(local)

Kennedy Oaks (G1)

Age: 3yo Sex: F Type: OPEN
AUD $1,005,000
2500m TURF GOOD
8
17:00
(local)
AUD $1,005,000
2500m GOOD

Kennedy Oaks (G1)

Age: 3yo Sex: F Type: OPEN

Aristia, who broke through for her first win (after five placings) in nine starts in Saturday's Wakeful Stakes (Gr 2, 2000m) backed up that success with a strong win in this prestigious Group 1 race. Damian Lane gave her a good trip in fourth place, tracking a steady pace before improving rounding the home turn. She challenged at the 200m and finished too well to score a strong win, running the 2500m out well. Greysful Glamour was smartly away, Tim Clark then steadied the midrace pace before lifting the tempo coming to the home turn. She got a break on straightening and fought back well for a good second. Miner's Miss, winner at her sixth attempt of a maiden (1860m) at Avoca on October 20 at her latest outing, stepped up quickly in class and did very well in taking the minor placing after racing in third spot on the rails to the home turn. Maracaibo was wide early on before settling outside of the leader (Greysful Glamour). She then kept battling on well for (2.1 lengths) fourth after stepping up significantly in class here at her fifth start. Of the others: Qafila was handy all the way and held on quite well for (2.3 lengths) fifth, Verry Elleegant raced towards the tail of the field, going a bit keenly before finishing (6.1 lengths) seventh while her stablemate and favourite Amphitrite raced in eighth place (one off the rails), but was under pressure on straightening and was eased down over the latter stages to finish last.



FP Horse, Age & Sex
Sire & Dam
Jockey
Trainer
SP
WT
1st 2. ARISTIA (AUS) 3yo F
LONHRO (AUS) - NAKAAYA (AUS)
DAMIAN LANE
MATHEW ELLERTON & SIMON ZAHRA
$5.5
55.5kg
First Light Racing Pty Ltd, Greenwich Stud Pty Ltd, Falcons Racing, P G Harbinson, Mrs L M Cartwright, P Rimes, G A Edwards, Too Hot To Trot, J Williams, Ms J M Vallence, G Hamilton, S D L Racing, S J V, Vionneto Racing, P J Campbell & A P Grant

Sales Information

2nd 5. GREYSFUL GLAMOUR (AUS) 3yo F
STRATUM (AUS) - RIPPLED (GB)
TIM CLARK
MARK NEWNHAM
$17
55.5kg
M D Holland, G Bachell, S Bulow, Mrs M A Camaivuna, Mrs D L Cameron, Miss C P Ewe, G J Galvin, J A Green, Mrs C J Kelly, I F Napier, L Pappamichalakis, M W Purvis, Mrs R Rowhead, M P Schalk, Team Honkers (Mgr: J Bird), Darby Racing Rippled (Mgr: S G Darby) & D Galea

Sales Information

3rd 14. MINER'S MISS (AUS) 3yo F
REBEL RAIDER (AUS) - POSNET (AUS)
MICHELLE PAYNE
P G PAYNE
$101
55.5kg
P G Payne

Sales Information

4th 9. MARACAIBO (AUS) 3yo F
REDOUTE'S CHOICE (AUS) - SPANISH LAKE (AUS)
STEPHEN BASTER
TRENT BUSUTTIN & NATALIE YOUNG
$61
55.5kg

Sales Information

5th 3. QAFILA (AUS) 3yo F
NOT A SINGLE DOUBT (AUS) - ZIGHY BAY (USA)
J CROWLEY
D & B HAYES & T DABERNIG
$13
55.5kg

Sales Information

6th 6. SIZZLEME (AUS) 3yo F
SIZZLING (AUS) - PARNISSIUS (AUS)
LUKE CURRIE
CINDY ALDERSON
$31
55.5kg

Sales Information

7th 4. VERRY ELLEEGANT (NZ) 3yo F
ZED (NZ) - OPULENCE (NZ)
JOHN ALLEN
DARREN WEIR
$5
55.5kg
8th 10. SCAMPER (AUS) 3yo F
FASTNET ROCK (AUS) - SE SAUVER (AUS)
KERRIN MCEVOY
Leon & Troy Corstens
$51
55.5kg

Sales Information

9th 8. MISS MOANA (NZ) 3yo F
UNCLE MO (USA) - CORAL REEF (AUS)
MARK ZAHRA
J G SARGENT
$31
55.5kg

Sales Information

10th 12. COLLECTABLE (AUS) 3yo F
SEBRING (AUS) - MISS KEEPSAKE (NZ)
JAMES MCDONALD
ROBBIE GRIFFITHS
$21
55.5kg

Sales Information

11th 13. EXCLUSIVELY OURS (AUS) 3yo F
NEEDS FURTHER (AUS) - NONSENSICAL (AUS)
BEN THOMPSON
MATTHEW BROWN
$301
55.5kg

Sales Information

12th 7. DARK CONFIDANT (AUS) 3yo F
PIERRO (AUS) - LITTLE MISS SMILEY (AUS)
REGAN BAYLISS
D & B HAYES & T DABERNIG
$61
55.5kg

Sales Information

13th 11. ZAPURLER (AUS) 3yo F
HIGH CHAPARRAL (IRE) - ZAPURB (AUS)
HUGH BOWMAN
DARREN WEIR
$10
55.5kg

Sales Information

14th 15. LESEDI (AUS) 3yo F
POLANSKI (AUS) - DIAMOND BROKER (AUS)
NOEL CALLOW
ROBBIE LAING
$301
55.5kg
15th 1. AMPHITRITE (AUS) 3yo F
SEBRING (AUS) - OCEAN DREAM (AUS)
CRAIG WILLIAMS
DARREN WEIR
$3
55.5kg

Sales Information

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