Ciaron Maher set for first runner in The Everest with TAB securing Bella Nipotina

A Ciaron Maher sprinter is the third horse locked in for The Everest and its slot-holder believes it has “backed a winner”.

Bella Nipotina, the “Iron Lady” of Australian racing, has become the third sprinter selected for a slot in the $20m The TAB Everest.

Slot-holder TAB has been negotiating for some weeks with Bella Nipotina’s owners before striking a deal on Tuesday.

The Ciaron Maher-trained Bella Nipotina joins I Wish I Win and Bustling in the field for The Everest, run at Royal Randwick on October 19.

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This leaves nine slots vacant but Sunshine In Paris, brilliant winner of the Sheraco Stakes last Saturday, is owned by slot-holder John Camilleri and while the mare hasn’t been officially locked in for The Everest, it is accepted she will be among the elite 12 sprinters.

Bella Nipotina, a three-time Group 1 winner of more than $11m prizemoney, is the $7 second favourite behind I Wish I Win ($5) for the world’s richest turf race.

Maher’s seven-year-old mare, who spends more time swimming on the beach than galloping on the track, is the champion trainer’s first starter in The Everest.

Bella Nipotina and trackwork rider Shannon Durant at the beach at Anna Bay. Picture: Rohan Kelly

“We are fortunate the TAB selected Bella Nipotina and myself and the team are very excited,’’ Maher said.

“She is quite amazing. She has a busy end to the season but you could arguably say she is in career-best form.

“Bella Nipotina just keeps getting better. I wouldn’t trade her for anything else and we’re excited to go on the journey with the TAB team over the next month.’’

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TAB hasn’t been associated with an Everest winner so far with their best results from Santa Ana Lane who was runner-up to Yes Yes Yes in 2019, and fourth placegetter Lost And Running behind Nature Strip in 2021.

But the wagering giant hopes it has “backed a winner” with Bella Nipotina.

“We’re thrilled to have locked in the services of one of Australia’s highest-class, in-form sprinters for the world’s richest sprint race,” Brett Boyd, Tabcorp’s head of racing industry partnerships, said.

“TAB has been proudly associated with The Everest since its inception, and we believe we’ve got the right horse to win it this year.’’

Bella Nipotina was outstanding in her return in the Concorde Stakes earlier this month, which secured her spot in The Everest. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

Bella Nipotina’s managing owner Michael Christian, who was part of Collingwood’s AFL premiership in 1990, said he hopes the mare can add the TAB Everest to her three Group 1 wins.

“We are so blessed to be involved with such an incredible horse and to be able to run in TAB’s slot in the TAB Everest is a dream come true,’’ Christian said.

Bella Nipotina had an outstanding 2023-24 season which earned her a deserved reputation for consistency and durability.

She contested 14 races against the best sprinters in training for three wins and six minor placings, and never finished further back than fifth.

She won two Group 1 races, the Tatt’s Tiara and Doomben 10,000, and the Giga Kick (Winners) Stakes, and ran second placings in another three majors, TJ Smith Stakes, Kingsford Smith Cup and Stradbroke Handicap.

Then Bella Nipotina’s slashing return to racing in the Concorde Stakes earlier this month – when she ripped home her final 600m in a stunning 31.81sec to narrowly miss reeling in stablemate I Am Me – was enough to convince TAB to lock in Maher’s mighty mare for The Everest.

What a finish!@nashhot and @cmaherracing combine to win the G3 Concorde Stakes with I Am Me, and it's a Maher quinella with Bella Nipotina in second place! pic.twitter.com/9S20wni02u

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 7, 2024

Maher has nominated Bella Nipotina for the Group 2 $1m The Shorts (1100m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday but indicated he is likely to keep the mare fresh and give her a final Everest lead-up in the Group 2 $1m Premiere Stakes (1200m) at the same track in two weeks.

Meanwhile, the Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained I Wish I Win will have his final hitout before The Everest in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at The Valley on AFL grand final eve, September 27.

There is a question mark on Bustling after the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr-trained three-year-old after he faded to finish eighth in the Run To The Rose won by Traffic Warden last Saturday.

Bustling, who is raced by Everest slot-holders Max Whitby and Neil Werrett, is likely to have his next start in the Listed $200,000 Heritage Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on September 28 to confirm an Everest start.

Originally published as Ciaron Maher set for first runner in The Everest with TAB securing Bella Nipotina