Move over Con Te Partiro (USA), you are not the only mare to win a Group 1 this season after retiring to stud as Will Clarken’s $22,500 Inglis Digital purchase Bella Vella led all the way under Todd Pannell in Saturday’s Group 1 Robert Sangster (1200m) at Morphettville.
If anyone was cheering harder than the connections it was Coolmore’s Client Communications Manager Fionnuala Timoney who purchased Bella Vella’s Forget the Weather (USA) for $20,000 at the 2019 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
A 5yo daughter of Commands, Bella Vella was retired to stud in 2018 by Sir Owen Glenn to be covered by his 4-time Group 1 winner Criterion. The son of Sebring impregnated just four of his 15 mares that season and Bella Vella was not one of them.
She was put up for sale on Inglis Online and the $22,500 shelled out by part-owner John Kellton has proven to be a rare bargain.
Todd Pannell had the 5yo daughter of Commands travelling sweetly out front and waited until the 250 metres before asking her for an effort.
She held Godolphin’s fast-finishing Lyre (Lonhro) by a half-neck with Bam's On Fire (Universal Ruler) one and three-quarter lengths back in third.
Bella Vella has won six races since her purchase advancing her record to 9 wins, 5 seconds and 3 thirds from 28 starts with earnings of $634,360.
“We bought her online, David Jolly actually found her and some of my owners were looking at her as well so we put a syndicate together so obviously it’s a fairy tale story now,” Clarken said.
“She was previously owned by the owner of Criterion who was infertile, so we bought her back to the track and the rest is history.
“She’s a stable favourite and some of my really good mares Lachie Weekley and John Kelton have shares and they have been with me from the start when I had just five horses in work.
“She wore my dad’s colours who was a passionate racing person so it’s very special.
Clarken was non-committal about starting the daughter of Commands in the Group 1 Goodwood but nominated the Moir Stakes as a long-range target.
Originally purchased by Paul Moroney Bloodstock for $100,000 out of the Willow Park draft at the 2016 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Bella Vella is the best of three winners from as many to race out of the imported Stormy Atlantic mare Forget The Weather who is a half-sister to three stakes-winners, Wedlock (Maria’s Mon), Ever After (Kris S) and Extravert (Wild Again).
Forget The Weather has a 2yo Smart Missile colt named Typhoon Force who was purchased by Gollan Racing/John Foote/Aquis/BRT Bloodstock for $75,000 at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale.
Following her purchase by Fionnuala Timoney, Forget The Weather foaled a Shooting To Win colt last spring and was bred back to Gailieo’s 4-time Group 1 winning son Churchill.
