Bella Nipotina and I Am Me ready to take on Imperatriz in Group 1 William Reid Stakes
The Ciaron Maher stable is feeling upbeat star mares Bella Nipotina and I Am Me will provide tough competition for Imperatriz in the William Reid Stakes.
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Friendly banter in a trainers’ private WhatsApp group could ratchet up on the result of the Group 1 William Reid Stakes.
Three of the six “the Swans” chat members, Ben Gleeson (Imperatriz), Jack Turnbull (Bella Nipotina and I Am Me) and Sam Freedman (Hypothetical), saddle runners in the $1m sprint on Saturday at The Valley.
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David Eustace and Ciaron Maher’s vet Charles McGladdery are also in the group.
“It’s a good close knit group, plenty of talk and obviously good camaraderie as well,” Maher’s assistant trainer Turnbull said.
“We made the group a few years ago now, (the Swans name) was something to do with getting around and being young and carrying on.
“It’s actually a really good means of communication and we obviously all have similar roles, it ties in well.”
Turnbull is upbeat on Bella Nipotina and I Am Me, “at the best of their powers”, to rival champion and short-priced favourite Imperatriz.
Imperatriz has beaten the consistent Maher-trained mares in Group 1 sprints at The Valley the past 12 months, with Bella Nipotina runner-up in the William Reid Stakes last year and I Am Me second in the Manikato Stakes.
“Imperatriz is beatable, obviously showed that last start,” Turnbull said.
“She hasn’t drawn a gate to suit (nine of 10), I know she was very dominant at The Valley last start but she’s going to have to run to the mark she did.
“Our two mares are drawn low (two and three), they’re going to get an economical run and they’re at the best of their powers.
“Te Akau’s mare is going to have to be very good, which she is, but this game is a game of inches and it (barriers) could just be the difference.”
Imperatriz is a $1.65 favourite with TAB from Cylinder ($5.50), Bella Nipotina ($7), I Am Me ($8) and Hypothetical ($21).
“It’s a good field, for 10 runners, and as it should be, it’s a premier Group 1, it’s worth a $1m and got a lot of history, so hopefully it turns out the way it looks,” Turnbull said.
Cylinder capitalised on a 7.5kg weight advantage last start to beat Imperatriz in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap.
Bella Nipotina placed fifth in the Newmarket second-up, beaten just under two lengths.
She finished fourth first-up at Flemington, less than a length behind Imperatriz in the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes.
A length separated the mares in the William Reid Stakes last year.
“She’s a very consistent and tough horse,” Turnbull said.
“She’s hardy, made of cast iron and she just keeps turning up.
“If Imperatriz gets out a spot, or doesn’t race to her best, we know Bella Nipotina is very consistent and she’s going to be there for the whole time.”
I Am Me boasts “a dynamite” fresh record, having won three of four previous first-up starts.
“She’s definitely got a Group 1 in her, she’s as close to a Group 1 without winning one as we have got (in the stable),” Turnbull said.
“If she continues to race well she probably heads to Queensland, races like the Stradbroke and Tatts Tiara would be right up her alley, but for now we’ll target this race and hopefully get a Group 1 early.”
The powerhouse Maher stable has up to 15 runners at The Valley on Saturday, including three emergencies.
Turnbull is optimistic about two-year-old colt Spywire being able to win the Listed Valley Pearl (1200m).
“I know if he gets it right, and Johnny Allen gets him to relax, it will take a decent horse to run him down,” Turnbull said.
Originally published as Bella Nipotina and I Am Me ready to take on Imperatriz in Group 1 William Reid Stakes
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