Aristovic, right, toughs it out from Linger For Longer © Photo Healy Racing
Aristovic was backed from 12/1 to 5/1 before racing began in Tipperary this evening and the money proved well founded in the 1m1f handicap.
He was never far from the pace in third and closed on Cherub Rock over three furlongs out.
Joey Sheridan sent him on racing into the final quarter of a mile, but the pair looked vulnerable to strong-travelling Linger For Longer outside the final furlong.
The leader was soon ridden and Linger For Longer just couldn't get on terms. Aristovic saw her off by a neck and was returned at 13/2 from the 11/1 runner-up. Easy-to-back Flash Of Dawn was four lengths off the front pair in third at 14/1.
Sheridan put up his declared possible overweight of 2lb on the winner.
Johnny Levins said of his filly: "They hacked around, Joey was in a nice position, was ready to attack up the straight and she did it very well. She was lonely in front but she was in front for a long time on that ground.
"Joey said she took a blow just before the line so maybe with the break we gave her, she needed two runs. I thought she'd be fit and well but I haven't been hard on her at home since her Ballinrobe run, so I'd imagine she will step forward again. She wouldn't have been madly in love with the ground and she is only a light little filly.
"I'm delighted for David Spratt and Kevin McMunigal as they bred her and many thanks to them for putting her in training with me."
Additional reporting by Tom Weekes
