The highest stake earning mare ever in Australia with the exception of Winx, Everest queen Bella Nipotina was always expected to set the sale ring alight at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale on Thursday night.
Offered in the star studded draft of her trainer Ciaron Maher, the seven year-old daughter of Pride of Dubai sparked plenty of interests but at the end of the day her breeder and co-owner Michael Christian could not part with the earner of $22million.
He bought out the other owners under his Longwood Thoroughbreds banner and Bella Nipotina will be heading back to embark on a stud career at the farm where she was born.
Christian lost her mother Bella Orfana earlier this adding further impetus to the decision to bring Bella home to where she belongs.
“It's been an incredible journey that she's led us on and it's a great thrill to be able to bring her home where it all started. She was bred on the farm and to achieve what she achieved… so to be able to bring her back it's just fantastic,” said Michael Christian.
“I hope she produces a nice foal. I'm sure she will.
“It was always going to be tough to secure her. There were some serious people involved, and I just feel very proud that we've been able to get her and it will be very exciting to get her home.”
“It feels like a bit of a full stop in a way because her racing is finished, but it's a whole new chapter now. So we're looking forward to the next 10 years, 12 years, maybe, who knows and hopefully in that time we can produce some beautiful horses and have a lot more fun.”
No decision has been made as to which stallion will cover the four time Group I winner.
Bella Nipotina has not always been the superstar she is today having made her first trip to the sale ring back in 2019 at Inglis Premier where she made $80,000.
