Career of Bella Nipotina has drawn to a close with The Everest winner to be sold at auction in May

Trainer Ciaron Maher has announced that The Everest winner Bella Nipotina has been retired and will be offered for sale in May.

The career of Bella Nipotina has drawn to a close.

Reigning The Everest winner Bella Nipotina has been retired and will be offered for sale via a public auction in May.

Only Winx has chalked up more prizemoney in Australia than the $22,757,625 Bella Nipotina amassed throughout her remarkable 57 start career, highlighted by last year’s The Everest triumph along with three other Group 1 victories.

Ciaron Maher trained the daughter of Pride Of Dubai for most of her career and in a statement on Tuesday declared her “the toughest racehorse he has ever trained.”

• ‘It is at a standstill’: Jockey safety vest review going nowhere

“Bella (Nipotina) was the most consistent and toughest racehorse I have had the pleasure to train,” Maher said.

“She has given me some of my biggest thrills in racing and has had a wonderful career.

“I feel honoured to have been part of her journey, and the last 12 months have shown the true makings of a genuine Australian sprinter.”

On behalf of the ownership group, we proudly announce the retirement of our Everest champion & multiple Group 1 winner, BELLA NIPOTINA 🏆

A mare with heart, grit, and a will to win—Bella has given us memories to last a lifetime. Now, she embarks on a new venture in the breeding… pic.twitter.com/1Z2qimTLW8

— Ciaron Maher Racing (@cmaherracing) March 18, 2025

Bella Nipotina’s first win at Group 1 level came via the 2022 Manikato Stakes when she demolishing her rivals by just shy of five lengths.

She famously raced 14 times in 2024 across four different states and only finished outside of the top four on one occasion.

• Waller to take wraps off star imported mares

Four of those starts were part of a magical group 1 Queensland winter carnival run when taking out both the Doomben 10,000 and Tattersall’s Tiara while finishing runner-up in the Kingsford Smith Cup and Stradbroke Handicap.

She would return in the spring with two more placings before sitting three wide without cover in The Everest, getting the better of Giga Kick late with Craig Williams in the saddle.

Two weeks later she returned and won the $3m Russell Balding Stakes in dominant fashion.

Her final start came down the straight with a third to Sunshine In Paris in the Group 1 Champions Sprint during the Melbourne Cup Carnival where she bravely fought all the way to the finish.

In announcing her retirement from racing, connections revealed that the darling of Australian racing will be sold at auction in May.

Originally published as Career of Bella Nipotina has drawn to a close with The Everest winner to be sold at auction in May