Winx, Nature Strip … now Bella Nipotina: Mighty mare eyes $20m club in 2024 Russell Balding Stakes

The Everest winner Bella Nipotina can smash through the $20 million prizemoney barrier if she completes a unique sprint double in the $3 million Russell Balding Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

The Everest winner Bella Nipotina can smash through the $20 million prizemoney barrier if she completes a unique sprint double in the $3 million Russell Balding Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Bella Nipotina is attempting to become the first The Everest champion to win Rosehill’s richest open sprint.

The brilliant Ciaron Maher-trained mare can also become the first to go back-to-back in the Russell Balding (formerly Winners Stakes) after beating Private Eye and Think About lt last year.

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If Bella Nipotina, the $2.40 favourite, wins again on Saturday, she will earn $1,725,000 first prizemoney and another $1 million bonus as the leading points scorer in the Sydney Sprint Series this spring.

Then there is an additional $1 million bonus if she completes The Everest-Russell Balding double.

This would take Bella Nipotina’s career earnings to a staggering $22,536,624, making her the second highest all-time leading prizemoney earner in Australian racing history.

Only two horses have broken the $20 million prizemoney barrier – Winx, who earned a record $26,451,175 and Nature Strip, with $20,755,018.

The Sydney Sprint Series bonus – which would take Bella Nipotina above Nature Strip in the prizemoney rankings – is the reason the mare has raced in Sydney this spring, according to her jockey, Craig Williams.

  

“The whole plan this spring was to run through the four sprint races in the series,’’ Williams said.

“It is a great initiative by Racing NSW and that is why ‘Bella’ has been in Sydney from the very start of her campaign.

“All credit to Racing NSW, they had the foresight and the money to put into the series to attract the top sprinters.’’

Bella Nipotina leads the series with 12 points after three Sydney starts this spring – her placings in the Concorde Stakes (second) and Premiere Stakes (third) before her Everest triumph.

Another Maher-trained mare, I Am Me, is also in line for the bonus as she has earned 10 points after her wins in the Concorde Stakes and The Shorts.

Bella Nipotina is a seven-year-old mare about to contest her 55th race but remarkably the last 12 months of her career have been her best.

What a mare! 🙌

An epic finish to the #TABEverest with Bella Nipotina calling upon all her bravery to win! 😮@CWilliamsJockey | @cmaherracing | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/joFzBJjypt

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 19, 2024

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Since winning the Russell Balding Stakes last year, Bella Nipotina has won three Group 1 races including The Everest, finished second in another three Group 1 sprints, and amassed just over $14 million prizemoney.

“What a phenomenal year this mare has had,’’ Williams said.

“It would be nice to go back-to-back with her on Saturday to cap her year but it is going to be a tough race and, regardless, she has won The Everest.

“It’s scary to think what this mare has accomplished in the last 12 months and that she might still have improvement to come.

“Because her action has never been better, her attitude is better as she is much calmer now, and her ability and strength has really developed.

“It’s very exciting and I’m grateful to be riding her again on Saturday.’’

BELLA NIPOTINA WINS THE DOOMBEN 10,000!

In a cracking finish, she defeats the favourite I Wish I Win right on the line!

What a mare she is, and now takes her earnings closer to $10 million 👏 pic.twitter.com/Rt25A4uCK5

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 18, 2024

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Williams would usually be at Flemington for Derby Day and the start of the Melbourne Cup Carnival on Saturday but he will go wherever he’s needed to stay on Bella Nipotina.

“Saturday is a big day in Sydney and Melbourne and you can only ride one horse in a race and be in one state at a time,’’ the champion jockey said.

“I know I have been in situations before when I was meant to be in Melbourne but my team and I have made the decision to ride elsewhere.

“Everyone is going to have their opinion on this, but it is what it is, there is no right or wrong answer and it gives jockeys more opportunities to ride in these big races.’’

Originally published as Winx, Nature Strip … now Bella Nipotina: Mighty mare eyes $20m club in 2024 Russell Balding Stakes