Friday, 9 November 2018: 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

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  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 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."