A perennial bridesmaid, Bella has taken on the best sprinters, and beaten the best

An outstanding sprinter and a Group I winner, the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace trained Bella Nipotina won the Group I MVRC Manikato Stakes in 2022 and since then has placed in a further eleven elite sprint races, albeit without winning. An $80,000 Inglis Premier purchase for Lindsay Park Racing / Andrew Williams Bloodstock / Mt Hallowell Stud from the Rosemont stud draft, Bella Nipotina was bred by Michael Christian and partners at Longwood Thoroughbred Farm and they retain a share in her ownership. She has the impressive record of eight wins and 22 placings from 50 starts with earnings topping A$10 million. Bella Nipotina is the first foal of Bella Orfana, a placed sibling by Star Witness to Group winners Hallowell Belle and Fuddle Dee Duddle from the family of Group I Caulfield Guineas winner In Top Swing. Bella Nipotina is the highest stakes earner for Pride of Dubai, who added a new Group One winner to his tally at Flemington when Pride of Jenni won the Group One VRC Empire Rose Stakes. Christian is still breeding with the dams of both Bella Nipotina (Bella Orfana) and In Secret (Eloping) who are the stars of his broodmare band at his Longwood Thoroughbred Farm.

Beginning her career as a two-year-old in October 2019, Bella Nipotina would run 2nd in the Listed Inglis 2YO at Moonee Valley and finish runner-up in the Listed Millineum Stakes under the guidance of TD. & B. Hayes & T. Dabernig. Another 2nd would follow in the VOBIS Gold Rush at Bendigo in March 2020. The fillies first win would arrive in the Gr.3 Quezette Stakes at Caulfield before resuming in the Spring with an additional 2nd in the Gr.3 Red Anchor Stakes. The runner up tag would continue to haunt connections with a 2nd in the 500K Inglis Dash in February 2021 at Flemington, however a change of stables to Ciaron Mahar saw some marked improvements with black type placings and victories.

A third in the Gr.3 WJ Healy with Craig Williams aboard would be followed by a win in a Mares Handicap at Eagle Farm, a 2nd in the Chautauqua Listed Stakes, then another win in the Gr.3 How Now at Caulfield. A 3rd in the Gr.2 Schillaci Stakes led up to a bold 2nd in the Gr.1 Manikato Stakes behind Jonker in October 2021 then a 3rd in the $2M Gr.1 VRC Classic. Returning in 2022 with JMac steering, Bella Nipotina would win the Gr.2 Sapphire at Randwick before another let-up into the Spring of that year. In August, Bella would be victorious in the Listed Norman Carlyon at MV, run 2nd to Coolangatta in the Gr.1 Moir Stakes before finally gaining Group One glory in the prestigious Manikato Stakes from barrier 1. Into 2023 and a 3rd in the Gr.1 Lightning Stakes, 2nd in the Gr.1 William Reid Stakes behind Imperatriz and a 3rd in the Quokka at Ascot in Perth would be her best results. To round out the year, Bella Nipotina would run 3rd in the Gr.3 Concorde, Gr.2 Premiere and Gr.3 Sydney Stakes before a fantastic win in the $3M Giga Kick Stakes at Rosehill, defeating Private Eye and the brilliant Think About It.

In the Autumn of 2024, Bella Nipotina returned at the peak of her powers. A glorious second to Chain Of Lightning in the Gr.1 TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick proved Bella Nipotina still possesses that competitive spark. A horse with substantially more starts then many of her peers then faces another star-studded field in the Doomben 10,000 and charged home to roll I Wish I Win in the feature. The durable mare overcame a tardy start to blitz home and score a final stride victory in the $1.5 million Gr.1 Ladbrokes Doomben 10,000 (1200m) in Queensland after being a length last from the barrier jump. Two weeks later at Eagle Farm the mare went down to I Wish I Win in the Kingsford Smith Cup with another bold effort up against the best sprinters in the land. She certainly deserves plenty of kudos for continuing to be so competitive as a six year-old with 50 starts under her belt.

As proof of her exceptional sprinting abilities, BELLA would go on to achieve greatness by winning the 2024 Gr.1 The Everest from Giga Kick and Growing Empire. The mare burst to the lead at the 150m mark and held off all challengers in her 55th race start. Her name now etched into the record books means the mare is now considered one of the finest sprinters of her generation.

RACE RECORD - 55: 10-13-12

EARNINGS - $16,890,875

G1 The Everest (2024)

G1 Doomben 10,000

G1 Manikato Stakes

Giga Kick Stakes

G2 Sapphire Stakes

G3 Quezette Stakes

G1 Kingsford Smith Cup

2nd G1 TJ Smith Stakes

2nd G1 William Reid Stakes

2nd G1 Moir Stakes

2nd G1 Manikato Stakes

2nd G3 How Now Stakes

2nd G3 Red Anchor Stakes