Racing Confidential: Why history is against Bella Nipotina in the 2024 The Everest
She’s won three Group 1s and more than $11 million, but Bella Nipotina will still need to defy history if she’s to even run top three in this year’s The Everest.
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Bella Nipotina’s deserved selection for the $20 million The TAB Everest was a case of “not if but when!”
The Ciaron Maher-trained Bella Nipotina is recognised as an outstanding and consistent sprinter, winning three Group 1s and $11 million in prizemoney.
The only surprise about her Everest inclusion was that it took so long for a slot-holder to lock in the “Iron Lady” of Australian racing before TAB earlier this week successfully negotiated a deal with the mare’s owners.
But what is surprising is the record of mares in The Everest because since the race was first run in 2017, they have not managed to even place in the rich Randwick sprint.
It’s not a large enough sample to make any definite conclusions but it is somewhat disconcerting that the best result by a mare in The Everest so far is In Secret’s fourth placing behind Think About It last year.
• From the bush to The Everest: Bjorn Baker duo’s big climb
Some very good mares have contested The Everest without success including English, Shoals, Arcadia Queen, Alizee, Sunlight, In Her Time, Tofane, Libertini and Espiona, plus three-year-old fillies like She Will Reign, Tulip and Houtzen.
This year’s Everest, which is run at Royal Randwick on October 19, is likely to have a number of mares in the field including Bella Nipotina, Sunshine In Paris and Joliestar, while I Am Me, Stefi Magnetica, Estriella and the fillies Lady Of Camelot and Hayasugi are possible contenders.
Meanwhile, 2022 The Everest winner Giga Kick is likely to have a barrier trial at Canterbury on Tuesday.
Trainer Clayton Douglas will use the trial to ready Giga Kick for the Group 2 $1 million Premiere Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on October 5, a weight-for-age sprint that is shaping as a make or break for a number of Everest hopefuls.
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McDonald, O’Shea and Charlton on hot streak
The winning strike rates of champion jockey James McDonald and the training partnership of John O’Shea and Tom Charlton in Sydney racing are quite extraordinary.
The 2024-25 season is not quite two months old but McDonald’s four-timer at Canterbury on Wednesday took him to 27 city wins from 83 rides at an amazing ratio of 32.5 per cent of wins to rides.
McDonald, who has already opened up a 14-win lead over nearest rival Jason Collett in the Sydney premiership, has a powerful book of nine rides at Royal Randwick on Saturday including favourites Ceolwulf ($3.20, race 5), Tom Kitten ($3.60, race 6), Autumn Glow ($1.95, race 7), Fangirl ($2.20, race 8) and I Am Me ($2.90, race 9).
The O’Shea-Charlton stable’s win with Countyourblessings at the Canterbury midweeks was their seventh metropolitan winner from just 18 starters for an unheard of strike rate of 38.9 per cent.
Hall of Fame trainer Chris Waller is off to a “flyer” in the new season with 28 winners and a commanding 21-win lead in the premiership.
• Randwick Turf Talk: Fangirl to become a victim of ‘gotcha’ moment?
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Al Maher passes away at Emirates Park
Emirates Park’s leading stallion Al Maher passed away earlier this week after a short illness.
The 23-year-old sire was a top class racehorse himself winning the Group 1 Australian Guineas in 2005.
At stud, Al Maher has achieved considerable success siring 39 individual stakes winners of more than $70 million prizemoney including Group 1 winners Delicacy, Diamond Drille, Fat Al and Almalad.
But Al Maher’s best progeny is definitely Joe Pride’s sprint star Private Eye, winner of 11 races including the Group 1 Epsom Handicap and more than $10.6 million.
Private Eye is one of the leading chances in the Group 2 $1 million The Shorts at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
• Pride on the line: ‘How is he not in the 12 best sprinters?’
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Shannon to King Charles III for Doncaster champ
The maestro Les Bridge has locked in the spring campaign for dual Group 1 winner Celestial Legend.
Bridge said Celestial Legend had pulled up well after his comeback eighth behind Encap in last week’s Theo Marks Stakes and confirmed the grey would run in the Group 2 Shannon Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on September 28.
Celestial Legend, winner of the Doncaster Mile earlier this year, was allocated 56kg for the Group 1 $1.5 million Epsom Handicap at Royal Randwick on October 5 but Bridge said the four-year-old would not run.
Bridge said he would instead use the Shannon Stakes to have Celestial Legend primed for the Group 1 $5 million King Charles III Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on October 19.
Celestial Legend will then go to the $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on November 2.
• Shayne O’Cass’s tips, race-by-race analysis for Randwick on Saturday
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Jenni’s taken the Queen … now she’s aiming for the King
The King Charles III Stakes is shaping as one of the races of the spring with trainer Ciaron Maher revealing Horse of the Year-elect Pride Of Jenni is also being aimed at the Randwick weight-for-age race.
Pride Of Jenni showed a return to winning form is imminent when narrowly beaten by Mr Brightside in a thrilling Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington last week.
In early TAB Fixed Odds betting for the King Charles, Pride Of Jenni is favourite $2.80 ahead of Fangirl at $3.50, then Mr Brightside ($4.50) and Celestial Legend ($4).
Fangirl, who won the King Charles so brilliantly last year, is continuing her spring preparation in the $1 million 7 Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
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Makiv appointed Godolphin managing director
🇦🇺 Godolphin Australia is pleased to announce Andy Makiv as Managing Director.
— Godolphin (@godolphin) September 19, 2024
Makiv says: “I’m honoured to be part of such a dynamic organisation. I’m excited to continue working with our great people, elite bloodstock and world-class facilities as we pursue further success.†pic.twitter.com/JiR9Y6K6zS
Godolphin has finally settled on its new managing director with the announcement that Andy Makiv has been given the high profile role.
Makiv was formerly Head of Sales at Darley, the breeding arm of Godolphin’s racing and breeding operation, and his appointment to the top job comes nine months after Vin Cox left the organisation to take over as Yulong’s global general manager.
Originally published as Racing Confidential: Why history is against Bella Nipotina in the 2024 The Everest
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