Zahra stays under notice in Oaks win
SIMON Zahra is known as the mouthpiece of his training partnership with his cousin Mat Ellerton but even he was lost for words after Aristia won the Group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m) at Flemington yesterday.
“I’ve never been speechless before but I am now. I’m lost for words,” Zahra said after the partnership had won their first major staying race.
Zahra said they wanted to prove to the racing world that they weren’t only trainers of good sprinters.
It was the Flemingtonbased team’s fourth Group 1 win but their first in a classic race and their first since Response won the 2011 Sangster Stakes (1200m) in Adelaide.
“To get a staying Group 1 under our belt is more important than anything – just to prove to people that we can train the stayers if we get the right horses,” Zahra said.
He said he and Ellerton felt they were overlooked by owners who had bought staying horses.
“Staying-bred types, even overseas stayers, we don’t get a chance with them,” he said.
“People might look at us differently now.”
Ellerton said he also took a special thrill in jockey Damian Lane winning for them.
“He (Lane) came over from Perth, he took a while to find his feet but he’s gone to another level and helped us hopefully on the way,” Ellerton said.
Lane was also emotional after the win, saying it was the highlight of his career to win the Oaks for the cousins.
“I love Matty and Simon; they’ve been such a big part of not only my career but my life,” Lane said after notching his 14th Group 1 win.
“When I moved to Melbourne, I lived in Matty’s home for the first six or seven months.
“He’s always treated me like a family member. I wouldn’t be where I am today without them.
“He always took care of me and I always appreciated that.”
Aristia ($5.50) scored a three-quarter length victory over Greysful Glamour ($17) with Miner’s Miss ($101) the same margin away third.
Miner’s Miss was ridden by 2015 Melbourne Cupwinning jockey Michelle Payne for her 82-year-old father Paddy, who trains the filly.
The Paynes plan to set the $10,500 weanling for a tilt at the Australian Oaks at Randwick in April and potentially a return to Flemington for the Cup next November.