Eastern Aria (Richard Hills) scores a clear-cut victory from Polly's Mark

  PICTURE: Edward Whitaker/RacingPostPix.com  

Johnston off mark at last with Eastern Aria

Report: Goodwood, Thursday

Moet Hennessy Fillies' Stakes (Group 3) 1m6f, 3yo+, fillies and mares

EASTERN ARIA, trained by Mark Johnston and ridden by Richard Hills, stayed on well to give the trainer his first success at this year's Glorious Goodwood.

The four-year-old struck the front three furlongs from home and stayed on gamely to score by two and three-quarter lengths from Polly's Mark. Motrice was two and a half lengths further back in third, with Rosika fourth.

Eastern Aria had won a Listed race at Newmarket on her previous outing but was sent off a 16-1 shot here. Having been held up in mid-division as Just Lille set the pace, the Johnston filly opened a clear lead once given notice by Hills and never looked likely to be caught. Her time of 2min 58.05sec took just over half a second off the course record, which had stood for 11 years.

This was Eastern Aria's first victory in Group company and she is now unbeaten in two starts under Hills, who was also on board for her Newmarket win.

Johnston, seven times the leading trainer at the meeting, was not surprised Eastern Aria had won a Group race - just that it had taken her so long.

He said: "She finished last season the most improved horse in the yard by a long way, having gone from winning handicaps off marks in the mid-70s to finishing fourth in a Group 1 [the EP Taylor Stakes at Woodbine in Canada]. I had huge hopes at the start of the season but she wasn't firing. We knew she was in good form, though."

Flying Cloud, the 6-4 favourite, was disappointing and failed to land a blow after being short of room on the far rail as jockey Frankie Dettori tried to find a way through the pack.