Bella Nipotina secures third spot in $20m The Everest

She spends more time swimming at the beach than running on the racetrack, but the TAB is betting Bella Nipotina’s shot at winning the world’s richest turf race will be a beautiful thing.

Bella Nipotina with Sky Racing’s Ally Mosley on the beach at Anna Bay. Picture: Rohan Kelly

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

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 $11 million prizemoney, is the $7 second favourite behind I Wish I Win ($5) for the world’s richest turf race.

Bella Nipotina accepts a kiss from Sky Racing analyst Ally Mosley. Picture: Rohan Kelly

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.

“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.’’

TAB hasn’t been associated with an Everest winner so far. Their best results came 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.

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

“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,” said Brett Boyd, Tabcorp’s Head of Racing Industry Partnerships.

“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’s managing owner Michael Christian, who was part of Collingwood’s AFL premiership in 1990, 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. 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 Tatts Tiara and Doomben 10,000, and the Giga Kick (Winners) Stakes — and ran second in another three majors: the 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 31.81s to narrowly miss reeling in stablemate I Am Me – was enough to convince TAB to lock in Maher’s mighty mare for The Everest.

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