Tough staying filly Aristia ran right up to her Wakeful Stakes win last Saturday with a solid victory in the Group 1 $1m Kennedy Oaks (2500m) at Flemington today.

Aristia, above, is the winner of the 2018 Kennedy Oaks at Flemington. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Aristia put the writing on the wall for the Kennedy Oaks with an impressive win in the traditional lead up race in the Group 2 $300,000 Mumm Wakeful Stakes (2000m) at Flemington five days ago.

Co-trainer Matt Ellerton said that Aristia had come through the Wakeful Stakes win in good order and went into the Kennedy in better shape for the run.

“I thought she looked better Sunday, Monday morning after Saturday and she is a very tough filly,” Ellerton said.

Winning jockey Damian Lane gave Aristia ($5.50) the run of the race just behind the leaders and presented her at the right rime in the straight to challenge the leader Greysful Glamour ($17).

Greysful Glamour didn’t give in without a fight and tried hard to the line before going down by three quarters of a length while $101 bolter Miner’s Miss also stuck to her guns in the straight to claim third spot.

“A very good ride from Damian Lane,’ Ellerton said.

“It was a good watch early on. It was a very very easy watch and all credit to Damian.”

Ellerton’s training partner Simon Zahra explained how far Lane has developed as a rider since he moved over from Western Australian several years ago and kicked off his Melbourne career under the care of the Kennedy Oaks winning trainers.

“He came over from Perth and took a while to find his feet but he has gone to another level,” Simon Zahra said.

Leading trainer Darren Weir saddled up three runners in the Kennedy Oaks with Verry Elleegant ($5) the first stable runner home in seventh position ahead of Zapurler ($10) in thirteenth spot while Amphitrite ($3 favourite) was last of thee fifteen fillies to finish.