Trainer Ciaron Maher has thrown The Everest on the agenda for Bella Nipotina after her Tattersall’s Tiara triumph
Wonder mare Bella Nipotina capped off a remarkable Queensland winter carnival with a slashing victory in the Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
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Glamour mare Bella Nipotina came to Queensland for a two-run hit and run mission and instead left boasting one of the most impressive winter carnival CV’s ever seen after putting her rivals to the sword in the Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara on Saturday.
Training genius Ciaron Maher originally planned a Group 1 double involving the Doomben 10,000 and Tatt’s Tiara, but decided to throw in the Kingsford Smith Cup and Stradbroke Handicap in between, with the six-year-old becoming part of the furniture in Tony Gollan’s Eagle Farm stable.
Bella Nipotina overcame vet checks, bone dry tracks and unsuitable distances to put any queries over whether she belongs among Australia’s best sprinters to bed.
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It marked the second time Maher and jockey Ryan Maloney combined for Group 1 glory after shocking punters with $101 roughie Socks Nation in the Queensland Oaks.
Sent out an even money favourite, Bella Nipotina’s win was anything but a shock, as Maloney was cool, calm and collected in a speed-stalking position, before overhauling Bubble Rock and holding off a charge from stablemate Semana to win.
“She is just phenomenal, to do what she has done is just phenomenal,” Maher said.
“I thought we’d come up here for one run and maybe have a crack at the (Tattersall’s) Tiara, she’s ended up running in all four and has been as good in the last start as she was in the first.
“She has done this on the back of going to Perth earlier this year, running in the autumn in Sydney and Melbourne.”
After knocking off I Wish I Win in the Doomben 10,000, Bella Nipotina ran second in the Kingsford Smith Cup and put in a herculean effort to almost beat Stefi Magnetica while carrying the top weight in the Stradbroke before putting the cherry on top with another Group 1 victory on Saturday.
Maloney got the call up to ride the hot favourite with regular jockey Craig Williams in Ukraine for humanitarian efforts.
“I have known Ryan for a long time, one of our Group 1s was expected and the other certainly wasn’t,” Maher said.
Owner-breeder Michael Christian and his family watched on in tears as their mare returned to the winners’ circle.
Racing in career-best form after more than 50 starts, Maher lauded Bella Nipotina’s longevity and said he would base her next campaign around The Everest in the spring.
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“She had her first start for our stable on this day three years ago and has hardly missed a dance since, she is getting better,” he added,
“She was an emergency (in The Everest) last year and she is going better this time around, so we will work backwards from The Everest.”
It marked Maloney’s fifth Group 1 victory, as he overcame a tricky barrier 15 with ease.
“She obviously loves racing, I saw her during the week and I couldn’t believe how well she keeps her condition, you would never know she’s deep into a prep like she is and she’s travelled all over Australia,” Maloney said.
Bookies trimmed Bella Nipotina’s quote for The Everest from $11 into $9 second favourite following her win.
Originally published as Trainer Ciaron Maher has thrown The Everest on the agenda for Bella Nipotina after her Tattersall’s Tiara triumph
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