News

Brilliant Bella does it again!

2nd Nov 2024

Mighty mare Bella Nipotina (Pride of Dubai) today became the second-highest prizemoney earner in Australian racing history with an emphatic victory in the $3m Russell Balding Stakes at Rosehill.

Having won the $20m The Everest just a fortnight ago, the Ciaron Maher-trained Bella Nipotina lined up against another field of top quality sprinters today and produced arguably the greatest performance of her 56-start career to score the easiest of wins.

Not only did she collect the $1.725m first prize cheque, the 7YO also picked up an extra $1m bonus for winning the Sydney Sprint Series.

The double cash bonanza takes her career earnings to a staggering $22,536,624, second behind only Champion mare Winx on the all-time Australian prizemoney list.

It’s an extraordinary feat for Bella Nipotina, who was just an $80,000 purchase for Lindsay Park, Andrew Williams and Mt Hallowell Stud out of the Rosemont Stud draft at the Premier Yearling Sale.

Bella Nipotina is bred by Michael Christian, who races the mare with Siobhan Miller, Brad and Pauline Christian, Andy Ingersole, Mick and Alise Johnston, Tim and Bronwyn Porter and Wayne and Vicki Pelchen.

She is one of 101 individual G1-winning Inglis graduates since 2018 and one of 44 that could have been purchased for $100,000 or less in that period.

Christian was trackside at Rosehill today to witness what he described as “another freakish performance from a freakish mare’’.

“I got quite emotional today when she came back to scale because the crowd here, it was deafening, it just made you feel so blessed and so proud, they treated her like royalty,’’ Christian said.

“It was an amazing win, I couldn’t be prouder, I just feel so blessed and in awe of her.

“I always get more nervous to be honest when she starts favourite like she did today and is expected to win and you know all the punters’ money is on her. She was the highest rated horse in this race today so you just hope in a way she can deliver and of course she does.

“I know so many who back her just because they know she will give them absolutely everything, she is always brave and honest and for her to finally draw a good gate today, Craig [Williams] rode her brilliantly, it just all came up perfectly.’’

A decision on whether Bella Nipotina heads to the spelling paddock or stays in work for one more run this campaign will be made in coming days.

Fellow owner Mick Johnston described today as a “pinch me moment’’.

“I really can’t explain it at the moment,’’ Johnston said.

“You look and you see Winx as number one [prizemoney earner] and we’ve just jumped ahead of Nature Strip and there’s plenty of good horses behind them as well, it’s just unbelievable.

“Today’s run was certainly one of her better ones I’d say.

“Winning races like this and doing it with friends, that’s the big, big, big thrill and then going home to Melbourne to celebrate with the friends who couldn’t get up here today will be just as fun.’’