Aristia picks up Romanet prize for Richard Hannon and Sean Levey

Odds of 40/1 behind Nashwa in the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood last month, the Starspangledbanner daughter showed plenty of heart in the hands of Sean Levey to prove the effort at the Sussex Downs was no fluke in her journey to the route in Normandy were .

Always at the forefront of fortunes alongside Paddy Twomey’s Rosscarbery, it was the raiding couple who stayed there all the way to the line, while Hannon’s filly poked her head down to keep Group One glory by her neck.

Sent to Francis-Henri Graffard ahead of a possible bid for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Verry Elleegant was held up in the early stages by Frankie Dettori at the back of the field but the Italian worked on 11 time to become the winner of the Group 1 as the field swung home and the duo were never a factor at the end of the race, coming home last of the seven runners.

Praise for the Levey ride

A delighted Hannon quickly paid tribute to Levey.

“Sean gave her a nice ride and it was his idea to run,” he said.

“Our last five Group One winners, he drove them. It’s great for him – he’s a very good jockey.”

He continued, “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) in Book 2 of Tattersall’s 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’s a great day for everyone.

“She can run to 120 and looks so much better now. It took her a long time to get into her coat and she totally deserved this day, as did Bunny and Will Edmeades.

“She is a real filly. Jamie Magee (pre-Wiltshire coach) had them for a period over the winter and he did an excellent job and deserves a mention.”

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

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

“What we do next, we’re going to kind of sit and think about it for the next week or so.”

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

However, the 11-time Group 1 winner in Australia for Chris Waller failed to impress her six rivals and failed to catch up on the straight as the Italian cried for her performance in the race, which was won by Richard Hannon-trained Aristia.

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

The seven-year-old had been making slow progress since arriving in France, but although Graffard missed her scheduled first run for the yard at the Rothschild 1-mile Prix on August 2, Graffard insisted everything was fine for her delayed bow on two stadia away in the northern hemisphere.

Although she lacked glamor and never looked like she would come to terms with the Headmasters, Graffard seemed content.

He said: “The result is not good, but as a coach, I’m happy with their return performance.

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

“We have to give her some respite at 2400 meters (1.5 miles) on softer ground. I think she will be featured at the Qatar Prix Vermeille (September 11th).”

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