Former South African based horseman Lionel Cohen notched a major milestone when Aeronautical scored an impressive win at Randwick on Saturday.

Cohen, best known through the exploits of his former Group One winning mare Sun Classique, is now based in Sydney and he was thrilled to notch his first winner in the Harbour City.

And the win was a highly impressive one too.

Sent out at double figure odds, Aeronautical came from well back in the field to reel in the leaders and then race clear to win easily.

Winning rider Nathan Berry couldn’t have been more impressed.

“He was very dominant,” Berry noted. “He is still doing a fair bit wrong so I was very happy with him.”

“It he had drawn a barrier he wins by a furlong,” Berry added.

Cohen said he was glad to get his promising youngster on a firmer surface after a pair of moderate runs on unsuitable heavy tracks.

The former South African purchased Aeronautical for $100,000 from the draft of Amarina Farm (as agent for Wood Nook Farm) at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

“I have just taken the first year quietly and I have had a fair season and I know a lot more now than I did at the beginning of the season,” Cohen said.

“I have always wanted to train. I grew up in a breeding business and that was a passion too. Australia has been good to me on a personal basis as well which is very important.”

Aeronautical is a gelded son of Encosta de Lago and he is the first winner to date for his stakes performed dam Moon Fever.

A daughter of Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus, Moon Fever is from the Group One winner Stella Cadente and is a half sister to the group performed Starfish.

It is the same family as Group One winners including Bollinger, Benicio, Kenny’s Best Pal, Bint Marscay and Filante.