Champion trainer Chris Waller posted an early double at Warwick Farm on Wednesday with the offspring of champion sire Fastnet Rock, scoring first with exciting two year-old Ranch Hand and then with blue-blooded filly Fifteen Aria, who carries the colours of leading Japanese breeder Katsumi Yoshida.
Read about Ranch Hand here.
A big strapping style of filly, Fifteen Aria has been handled patiently by Waller and had contested four previous barrier trials this year before venturing to the races for the first time in this 1300m maiden.
She settled back in the field for James McDonald and gradually worked her way between runners before surging hard over the final furlong to win by a short neck.
“She’s taken a little longer than expected,” said Waller.
“Now that she’s come here and won, she can go forward and there will be some nice races in the autumn for her.”
A $600,000 Inglis Easter purchase from the Kia Ora Stud draft for Katsumi Yoshida, Fifteen Aria is the first winner from Group I winning 2YO O’Marilyn, a half-sister by O’Reilly to Group I winners Headturner and Anacheeva as well as Group II winner Kroner.
O’Marilyn has a yearling filly by I Am Invincible and produced a full brother to Fifteen Aria on October 10.
