Aristia picks up Romanet prize for Richard Hannon and Sean Levey

Second at odds of 40/1 behind Nashwa in the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood last month, the daughter of Starspangledbanner showed plenty of heart in the hands of Sean Levey to prove that effort on the Sussex Downs was no fluke in her trip to the Normandy track.

Always at the head of affairs alongside Paddy Twomey’s Rosscarbery, it was the raiding pair that stayed there all the way to the line, with Hannon’s game filly sticking her head down to hold on for Group One glory by a neck.

Verry Elleegant, sent to Francis-Henri Graffard ahead of a possible Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe bid, was held up at the back of the pack in the early stages by Frankie Dettori, but the Italian was working away on the 11-time Group One winner as the field swung for home and the duo were never a factor at the business end of the race, coming home last of the seven runners.

Praise for Levey ride

A delighted Hannon was quick to pay tribute to Levey.

“Sean has given her a lovely ride and it was his idea to make the running,” he said.

“Our last five Group One winners, he has ridden them. It is great for him – he is a very good jockey.”

He went on: “She is a very good filly and it was a very good run last time. She was bought by Ross (Doyle) and Will Edmeades (advisor to owner Elizabeth ‘Bunny’ Roberts) at Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale (for 85,000 guineas).

“She is an extremely good filly and Bunny is a great supporter of ours – and she deserves it. It is a great day for everybody.

“She can run to 120 and looks so much better now. She took a long time to come in her coat and she thoroughly deserves this day, as do Bunny and Will Edmeades.

“She is a genuine filly. Jamie Magee (Wiltshire pre-trainer) had her for a period over the winter and he has done an excellent job and deserves a mention.”

Further top-level engagements are on the radar for Aristia.

Hannon added: “There is the race on Arc day (Prix de l’Opera), one on Champions Day, but today was her day.

“What we do next we will kind of sit and think about over the next week or so.”

No panic from connections of Verry Elleegant

Francis-Henri Graffard insisted he was “happy” with Australian superstar Verry Elleegant, despite finishing last of seven under Frankie Dettori on her European debut in the Darley Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville.

Held up, the 11-time Group One winner in Australia for Chris Waller made little impression on her six rivals, failing to pick up in the straight when the Italian asked for her effort in the race won by the Richard Hannon-trained Aristia.

Verry Elleegant, who won last year’s Melbourne Cup with a dominant display at Flemington, was sent to France to join Graffard’s Chantilly stable with a view to having a crack at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp in October.

The seven-year-old had been slow to progress since she arrived in France, but despite missing her intended first run for the yard in the one-mile Prix Rothschild on August 2, Graffard insisted all was well for her belated northern hemisphere bow over two furlongs further.

Despite lacking sparkle and never looking like she would get on terms with the principals, Graffard appeared satisfied.

He said: “The result isn’t a good one, but as a trainer I’m happy with her return effort.

“As Lanfranco Dettori told me, she’s a bit rusty. The track didn’t suit her.

“We will have to give her a reprieve on 2400 metres (mile and a half), on softer ground. I think she will be seen out in the Qatar Prix Vermeille (September 11).”

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