VRC Oaks winner Aristia dragged into ugly racing feud over alleged outstanding training fees
Expensive filly Aristia — winner of last year’s VRC Oaks — is caught up in a spiteful fallout between a leading syndicator and a well-known owner over alleged outstanding training fees.
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VRC Oaks winner Aristia and recent city winner Rich Hips are at the centre of bitter dispute between leading syndicator First Light Racing and owner Ahamed Mohamed Ali.
The matter is before the Victorian Civil Administrative Tribunal after Ali’s shares in four horses were to be transferred out of his name because he owed First Light between $13,000-15,000 in training fees.
Ali issued proceedings last month against First Light Racing, including an application for urgent interim objections which would restrain First Light from selling his shares in Aristia, Rich Hips, Bellevita and Aureum.
The injunction also called for the blocking of the sale of the horses and distribution of prizemoney “in a way which would deprive him of his share.”
Ali claims his five per cent share of the horses — coupled with the quartet’s earning capacity — is worth $1.5 million and if the horses were sold and he was deprived of prizemoney he stood to lose $200,000.
First Light provided information to VCAT outlining repeated — and allegedly unsuccessful — demands of Ali to pay outstanding training fees.
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First Light referred the matter to Racing Victoria’s dispute resolution and mediation services in May.
VCAT ruled that Ali had to provide it with an undertaking “as to damages” in writing by noon on Thursday.
Under the order, First Light is restrained from selling Ali’s shares, selling the horses and distributing the prizemoney.
VCAT is to make a separate order setting out directions for the “future conduct of the proceeding, including the filing of a counterclaim by the respondent (First Light).”
RV said it “is aware of the private matter between First Light Racing and Mr Ali that has been brought before VCAT. To our knowledge the matter remains under consideration by VCAT and we await its findings.”
Originally published as VRC Oaks winner Aristia dragged into ugly racing feud over alleged outstanding training fees