Lonhro's Aristia Earns the Crown in Victoria Oaks

Mark Smith - Thursday November 8

If you are still stewing over Princess Talaria's luckless, fast-finishing third behind her stablemate Show Ego in the VRC Oaks (2500m) 41 years ago, I sincerely hope you stuck solid with her great, great granddaughter Aristia who claimed the $1 million Group 1 classic at Flemington on Thursday.

Racing on the speed set by Greysful Glamour, Aristia was only asked for a serious effort by an ice-cool Damian Lane in the finals 250 metres but the daughter of Lonhro was made to fight every step of the way as Tim Clark raised another effort from Greysful Glamour.

Trained by Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra, Aristia toughed out a three-quarter length win over Greysful Glamour (Stratum) with Paddy Payne's $151 shot Miner's Miss (Rebel Raider), ridden by his Melbourne Cup-winning daughter Michelle, the same distance back in third. (photos Grant Courtney)


A maiden before she won the Group II Wakeful Stakes at Flemington five days back, Aristia advances her record to 2 wins, 3 seconds and 2 thirds from11 starts with earnings of $876,550

"This is easily my biggest thrill in racing," Lane said.

"The elation I felt going over the line, I love Matty and Simon who have been a big part, not only in my career but in life.

"When I went to Melbourne, I lived in Matty's home for the first six of seven months I was here and he has always treated me like a family member and I wouldn't be here today without them."

 

"It was a very easy watch and all credit to Damian but a special thanks to Damian Thornton who did a bit of work with her early on," Ellerton said.

"He (Damian Lane) came over from Perth. He took a while to find his feet but he has gone to another level and helped us along the way," Zahra added.

"We are not known as long-distance trainers but we have proved we can do it."

Bred by Greg Perry, Aristia was an $80,000 Inglis Easter purchase for First Light Racing / Ellerton Zahra / Paul Willetts Bloodstock from the Vinery Stud draft, Aristia

She is the best of three winners from the Tiger Hill (IRE) mare Nakaaya who was a $60,000 2008 Inglis Classic Yearling purchase that went on to win five of her 12 starts including the Group II MVRC Sunline Stakes at her penultimate start.

Nakaaya is out of the duel Sydney winner Duchess Talaria (Marwina) whose dam Sagala (Imperial Prince) produced Listed winner Sir Madi and the 4-time Sydney winner Purling who is the dam of Group I AJC Flight Stakes winner Royal Purler.

Sagalia is a daughter of Princess Talaria, a mighty little daughter of Dignitas who won six and placed in 14 of her 23 starts. All six of her wins came at stakes level including the Group I VATC Thousand Guineas, Group II VRC Edward Manifold Stakes and AJC Gimcrack Stakes and the STC Marlboro Classic Stakes (now the Group 1 Coolmore Classic). She was also fourth in Luskin Star's Golden Slipper.

Princess Talaria was no great shakes as a broodmare, however, he had six fillies and five of them produced stakes winners

Nakaaya has a yearling colt by Written Tycoon and has foaled this spring producing a filly by Newgate Farm young gun Flying Artie, winner of the Group I VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes in 2016.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Second Stakes Winner for First Season Bivouac in G2 Silver Slipper
The majority expected a first season sire to win the Group II Silver Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday, it just wasn’t expected to be Bivouac, but that’s the way it played out with Beiwacht scoring an impressive win and getting his ticket to the Golden Slipper.
$1.4million Extreme Choice Colt Wins G1 Blue Diamond
The $2million Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) looked an open affair on paper with the potential for an up and comer to take the prize and so it unfolded with the most expensive yearling purchase in the race delivering victory for Yulong as a maiden at just his second start.
Another Spirit of Boom 2YO SW for Lindsay Park
The Lindsay Park racing team already have one juvenile stakes-winner in the stable this season by Spirit of Boom in Shining Smile and now they have another with promising filly Gin Spirit taking out the Listed SAJC Cinderella Stakes (1050m) at Morphettville on Saturday.
Sethito on Track for $3.5million Kiwi
Four confirmed candidates for the inaugural $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) had their final dress rehearsal in the Listed Trevor & Corallie Eagle Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie on Saturday, and a classy performance by Sethito put a spring in the step of her connections and slot-holders.
Kiwi Heavyweight Mr Brightside Claims a Ninth G1 Victory
Champion galloper Mr Brightside notched his ninth Group One victory when winning the Gr.1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday for trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes under a positive Craig Williams ride.
G2 Winner for Satono Aladdin
Smart Kiwi four-year-old mare Firestorm snared a well-deserved Group Two victory when getting the better of her rivals in the Millie Fox Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Nicks That Click - Two Darley Champions Combine
A powerful nick between champion Darley sires Lonhro and Exceed and Excel produced it's tenth stakes-winner on Saturday.
Broadsiding's Brilliant Return
Superstar three-year-old Broadsiding was back with a bang in a brilliant return effort to win the Group II Hobartville Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday.
Darley Blueblood Salutes
When Darley sent Group I winning Redoute’s Choice mare Anamato to the Northern Hemisphere to start her stud career, they probably had high hopes of success, but after producing one stakes-winner from four foals, she is now back in Australia and had a winner on Tuesday.
Proisir Mare Hits Top Form in G3 Mannerism
Coeur Volante delivered a commanding performance at Caulfield on Saturday, securing her third Stakes victory in the Gr.3 Mannerism Stakes (1400m) under the guidance of jockey Blake Shinn.