Pride Of Dubai's Bella Nipotina Closes In on $2million

Mark Smith - Saturday August 20

The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable claimed four consecutive races at Moonee Valley on Saturday, culminating with stable favourite Bella Nipotina in the Listed Long Fine Hospitality Carlyon Stakes (1000m).

Bella Nipotina is a star (Image Reg Ryan/Racing Photos)

The run began when the 3yo Star Witness colt Fast Witness won the day's other feature, the Listed McMahon's Dairy McKenzie Stakes (1200m).

The Australian Bloodstock pair Mayfair Spirit (IRE) and Mankayan (IRE) chimed in before the well-supported Bella Nipotina completed a stellar day.

Advertisement

Ridden by Craig Williams, the 5yo daughter of Pride Of Dubai powered home to defeat the Headwater mare Mileva by a long head with a further three-quarter of a length back to the 4yo Extreme Choice gelding Extremely Lucky in third.

David Eustice said the daughter of Pride Of Dubai would target the Mankato Stakes, hopefully going one better than her second to Jonker twelve months ago.  

“She is just incredibly tough and has danced every dance over the last twelve to eighteen months,” Eustice said.  

“She is possibly getting better. Hopefully, she gets back for the Manikato (Stakes), that’s the plan.

“There is an awful lot of sprint races for her in the spring, in Sydney as well.

“She can travel, and is incredibly brave, so it’s great to start off the campaign like this.

“It’s three weeks to the McEwen (Stakes), which is ideal. She is just so versatile and so tough."

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 Siobhan Miller at Longwood Thoroughbred Farm. They retain a share in her ownership.

The win came shortly after the Longwood Stud bred In Secret (I Am Invincible) was a luckless second in the Group II Silver Shadow Stakes at Randwick.

In registering her fourth stakes win, Bella Nipotina advances her record to five seven six from 30 starts with earnings of $1,834,650.

Bella Nipotina an $80,000 Inglis Premier yearling

Bella Nipotina is the first foal of Bella Orfana, a half-sister 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 Orfana has a 2yo colt by Trapeze Artist that was sold by Longwood Thoroughbred Farm for $280,000 at Inglis Easter to O'Brien Thoroughbreds.

Not covered in 2020, Bella Orfana visited Zoustar last spring.

Advertisment

Race Result - Long Fine Hospitality Carlyon LR 1000m

Moonee Valley Track: Heavy(8) Time: 0:59.69
1
Bella Nipotina
- 5m Pride Of Dubai (AUS) x Bella Orfana (AUS) (Star Witness (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Craig Williams 57
Pride Of Dubai
2
0.2
Mileva
- 5m Headwater (AUS) x Lady Einstein (AUS) (Magic Albert (AUS))
Tnr: P Stokes Rdr: D Moor 56.5
Headwater
3
1.0
Extremely Lucky
- 4g Extreme Choice (AUS) x Tamarind Lane (AUS) (Stratum (AUS))
Tnr: Will Clarken Rdr: Jamie Kah 58
4
1.7
Roch 'n' Horse
- 6m Per Incanto (USA) x Rochfort (NZ) (Cecconi (AUS))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: Patrick Moloney 58
5
1.9
Esta La Roca
- 5m El Roca (AUS) x Camouflaged (AUS) (Strategic (AUS))
Tnr: Lloyd Kennewell Rdr: J Bowditch 55
6
3.4
Mossman Gorge
- 8g Mossman (AUS) x Lesmartre (AUS) (Jugah (USA))
Tnr: Matthew Dale Rdr: B Shinn 57
More Reading...
Hi Yo Sass Bomb Wins G3 on Sunday
Kim Reid bypassed a Group One in favour of Sunday’s Gr.3 Gee and Hickton Funeral Directors Thompson Handicap (1600m) at Trentham with Hi Yo Sass Bomb, a decision that paid dividends when the mare led from the outset to claim her third stakes success.
Bella Wins Everest!
She’s the Iron Lady of Australian racing and Pride of Dubai’s brilliant sprinter Bella Nipotina again showed her special brand of speed and tenacity to win the $20million Group I ATC The Everest at Randwick on Saturday in front of a sell out crowd.
New Cup Goal for Wolfgang
It may not be the Cup target they were aiming for, but Wolfgang put himself firmly into Gr.3 Martin Collins New Zealand Cup (3200m) calculations following his victory in the SkyCity Hamilton Waikato Cup Prelude (2400m) at Te Rapa on Monday.
Everest Goal for Inglis Graduate Bella Nipotina
Amazing mare Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai) secured a third career G1 win and took her earnings to almost $11m with a breathtaking victory in today’s Tatt’s Tiara at Eagle Farm.
Pride of Dubai Mare Selected for Everest
Seven year-old Pride of Dubai mare Bella Nipotina, soared to new heights last season and has become the third sprinter selected for a slot in the $20m The TAB Everest next month.
Bella Nipotina Retired - Heading To The Sale Ring
Five-time Group I winning mare, iron horse, and crowd favourite, Bella Nipotina has been retired, the second highest earning Australian horse of all time, to be sold at auction in May.
Sale Cup Winner Adds to Fastnet Rock Super Weekend
It’s been quite the weekend for the late great champion sire Fastnet Rock with a Cox Plate quinella on Saturday and then on Sunday he produced a new stakes-winner when seven year-old gelding El Rocko captured the $200,000 Listed Sale Cup (1600m).
Rewarding Weekend for Waikato Stud
A double strike at stakes level, a filly with a black-type future and a welcome family success handed Waikato Stud another rewarding weekend.
Sires With Winners - Sunday October 26
Here is the full list of 74 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Wootton Bassett and Camelot 2YO Colts Win Final French Group Ones
The last French Group I races of their flat season were run on Sunday and Aidan O’Brien produced the winners of both the Group I Criterium International (1600m) and Group I Criterium de Saint Cloud (1800m).