Aristella: A Day of Royal Elegance
Aristella, representing the Flying Zee Racing Stables, managed to clinch a surprising victory in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Woodbine on a particularly cold and windy day. This unexpected win in the $250,000 event on November 30 was attributed to an impressive ride by jockey Patrick Husbands. The 2-year-old filly, sired by More Than Ready and out of the mare Back to Love, came into the race as the only participant with experience in two-turn races, which proved advantageous. In contrast, Shifty's heavily favoured contender faced challenges and ultimately finished fourth.
Despite being sent off at odds of 9 to 1, Aristella found herself at the back of the pack early on, as the race unfolded with leisurely fractions of 26.40 and 52.92 seconds. Recognising the slow pace, Husbands skilfully manoeuvred his mount to stalk the front-runners, including Orient Beach, Reghal Moment, and Ready for Candy. As the race progressed, a battle ensued for the lead. Still, Aristella surged three wide into the stretch, ultimately besting Ready for Candy and crossing the finish line in a time of 1:48.74, possibly the slowest since the all-weather track was installed at Woodbine in 2006.
Bred by Peter Berglar Racing Interests LLC and Anderson Farms, Aristella has shown notable potential despite a rocky start in her career, including a ninth-place finish in her debut at Saratoga. The legacy of Flying Zee Racing Stables, founded by the late Carl Lizza, continues with Aristella under the guidance of his widow, Viane.
02 December 2024, 15:30