Ciao Bella: The little mare who could poised for Stradbroke glory (2024)

Bella Nipotina will be underestimated again in the group 1 Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm, but she should never be overlooked.

The six-year-old has earned the topweight in Queensland’s biggest handicap after a season in which she has not been beaten by more than 2½ lengths in 12 starts.

The Ciaron Maher-trained mare has met the likes of Imperatriz, I Wish I Win and Private Eye and has banked more prizemoney than them, but the $6 million in winnings and bonuses she has won might never have happened.

“We sat down with Ciaron and thought about breeding with her this time last year,” managing owner Michael Christian said.

“To Ciaron’s credit, he said she might have more to offer as a six-year-old, even though she was already a group 1 winner. He really knows her well and gets it right with her.

“It has been a remarkable ride since.

“It is hard to get $6 million for a foal, so when you look at it, it was the best decision to keep going. The success is mainly due to her toughness and durability.”

In a time when sprinters’ preparations are getting shorter and sharper, Bella Nipotina has raced in four states and been the common thread through the sprinting ranks for the season.

She won’t be in horse-of-the-year discussions but could step into an elite club with victory in the Stradbroke as it would take her earnings past the $8 million.

Only Everest winner Think About It, Caulfield and Melbourne Cup hero Without A Fight, and the runaway train Pride Of Jenni have banked more than $8 million this season. They have all had stand-out moments, whereas Bella Nipotina has two unassuming wins.

She started the season on the trek to The Everest, running placings in the Concorde Stakes, the Premiere Stakes and charging late into third in the Everest consolation, the Sydney Stakes.

“We had some casual inquiries about running in The Everest but we were happy in the Sydney Stakes, where we thought she could win,” Christian said. “That didn’t work out, but it set her up for the Giga Kick Stakes, which she won and took out the big bonuses [of $1.9 million].”

She went to the post a $5 chance in the Giga Kick Stakes, which is the shortest price she has started for the year. That reflects the place she holds in most punters’ minds – always one of the chances but never the favourite.

As the season moved into 2024, Bella Nipotina was there in the Lightning Stakes and Newmarket on the winner’s heels before a close second to Chain Of Lightning in the TJ Smith Stakes and heading west for the Quokka.

Another game fourth behind Overpass would have finished the preparation for most, but Bella Nipotina showed she was up for another challenge.

“She turns up every time, and there are not many horses you go to the races with thinking we are a real chance of winning today in group 1 races,” Christian said. “She is tough, but Ciaron knows her and has made some brave calls with her.

“After Perth, I said to Ciaron, ‘How about we spell and have a shot at The Everest’, and he just said, ‘I don’t know if I can get her back for another prep’.

“He added, ‘While she’s feeling this good, let’s go to for a couple of runs in Brisbane’, but the Stradbroke wasn’t in our thinking, it being a handicap.

“She wasn’t even going to run in the Doomben 10,000, which she won, until she got up there. It is like things just work out for her this season.”

Bella Nipotina was too strong for I Wish I Win at Doomben, a result that was reveresed in the Kingsford Smith Cup two weeks ago and opened the door to the Stradbroke, where Bella Nipotina is a $12 chance on Saturday.

“There is a lot against her in the Stradbroke. First time at 1400m, the wide gate, so I’m not as confident as usual with her,” Christian said. “But you can’t count her out.”

Jockey Craig Williams, who had been in the saddle of Bella Nipotina 10 times this season, knows that she will be there for the fight.

“Sh’s not underestimated here,” Williams said. “She’s done a lot of travel, but Ciaron understands her, and every time she fronts up she hasn’t yet anyone down.

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“She is with them on the dry, but on a soft track is where she really excels.

“She just looks fabulous at the moment, which is amazing considering the racing and travel she has done.

“She is the best horse in this race and I think the weight is all right when you look at the limit. So why can’t she win one more?”

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