Victoria Oaks winner Aristia and filly Rich Hips both subject of bitter ownership dispute
A star Group 1-winning mare with more than $1 million in prizemoney including an Oaks victory and an up-and-coming last start winning filly are now the subjects of a bitter racehorse ownership dispute.
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A Group 1-winning mare which beat a host of stars to take out the 2018 Kennedy Victoria Oaks is now the subject of a bitter ownership dispute.
Bonny mare Aristia joins promising filly and last start winner Rich Hips as well as Bellevita and Aureum as subjects of a Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal proceeding.
Former part owner Ahamed Mohamed Ali launched action against part owner First Light Racing Pty Ltd in a bid to regain his share of Aristia and the other horses.
Mr Ali has also sought an interim injunction preventing First Light from selling his shares until the matter is resolved.
If successful, the injunction would also prevent First Light selling any of the horses or distributing prizemoney.
Mr Ali has until today to agree to pay any damages First Light may incur while the injunction is in place.
He estimates the horses are worth $1.5 million with his share valued at $200,000.
Rich Hips looks an up-and-coming player but Oaks winner Aristia would hold the most value.
Mr Ali lost part ownership of the horses in May after First Light took possession of his shares.
The transfer was signed off by Racing Victoria after Mr Ali fell in arrears of his ownership fees.
First Light submitted Mr Ali did not pay any fees between December 2019 and May 2020.
First Light also submitted it contacted Racing Victoria which “investigated” and “approved” the transfer of the shares.
However, deputy president Ian Lulham has questioned the legality of the transfer.
“In conclusion on this point, there is certainly a serious question to be tried, namely whether First Light’s taking of Mr Ali’s shares was lawful,” he said.
Aristia’s sole Group 1 win came when she upstaged roaring pre-race favourite Verry Elleegant to win the 2018 Oaks at Flemington.
Trained by Matthew Ellerton and Simon Zahra and ridden by Damian Lane, Aristia stormed into Oaks calculation after winning the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes less than a week earlier.
The back-to-back wins are the only times in her career the now four-year-old mare has taken the top prize.
However, most of her racing has been at the top level competing against high-quality gallopers including multiple Group 1 winners Verry Elleegant and Melody Belle.
Aristia last raced when she finished seventh in the Group 2 Sunline Stakes at Moonee Valley in March this year.
The daughter of all-time great Lonhro was bought at the 2017 Inglis Easter sale by First Light Racing, Ellerton Zahra and Paul Willetts Bloodstock for $80,000.
Her career earnings to date are $1,217,900.
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