Aristia picks up Romanet prize for Hannon and Levey

But Australian superstar Verry Elleegant last of seven on French bow.

Richard Hannon’s Aristia caused a shock in the Darley Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville, as Melbourne Cup winner Verry Elleegant failed to fire on her French debut.

Second at odds of 40-1 behind Nashwa in the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood last month, the daughter of Starspangledbanner showed plenty of heart in the hands of Sean Levey to prove that effort on the Sussex Downs was no fluke in her trip to the Normandy track.

Always at the head of affairs alongside Paddy Twomey’s Rosscarbery, it was the raiding pair that stayed there all the way to the line, with Hannon’s game filly sticking her head down to hold on for Group One glory by a neck.

Verry Elleegant, sent to Francis-Henri Graffard ahead of a possible Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe bid, was held up at the back of the pack in the early stages by Frankie Dettori, but the Italian was working away on the 11-time Group One winner as the field swung for home and the duo were never a factor at the business end of the race, coming home last of the seven runners.

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