Brave Bella Nipotina boasts Australian racing’s biggest prize with unstoppable $20 million TAB Everest win
WA-owned stalwart sensation Bella Nipotina now boasts the claim of conquering racing’s richest prize with victory in Saturday’s $20 million TAB Everest (1200m), overcoming an unmercifully hard run to still emerge triumphant.
Whilst many punters anticipated Bella Nipotina ($9 TABtouch), who is part-owned by WA’s Michael Christian, would be forced back from gate 12, jockey Craig Williams had other ideas.
The leading jockey threw the cat amongst the pigeons, flying the mare forward at the start to sit on speed and momentarily it looked as though his daring would pay dividends and he would bag the rail.
But he was caught three wide outside both Growing Empire ($9) and Lady Of Camelot ($41), meaning the mare would have to tread a wide passage without cover, regarded as the cruelest position in racing.
Storm Boy ($13), per medium of an inside berth, eventually dashed through to join Growing Empire and Bella Nipotina, with Lady Of Camelot restraining out of the heated battle.
Williams, acknowledging any further pursuit of the fence would be futile, allowed his charge to coast back a length behind the leaders in an attempt to save some fuel approaching the bend.
Despite the inhospitable run, Bella Nipotina cruised into the straight under her own steam and quickly moved to challenge Storm Boy and Growing Empire, with I Am Me ($14) chiming in on the inside.
Camera IconBella Nipotina wins the 2024 Everest for jockey Craig Williams Credit: Simon Merritt/Simon Merritt / Western Racepix
By the 200m, Bella Nipotina had poked her neck in front, and it seemed her tremendous spirit had simply drilled her rivals into submission.
However, the 2022 Everest champion Giga Kick ($15) was finding full stride underneath horses and beginning a final thrust.
At the 100m, Giga Kick levelled with Bella Nipotina and, fleetingly, it looked as though the difference in runs would take its toll.
But again, the indomitable fighting will of Bella Nipotina reared its head, and the mighty mare refused to lie down.
The daughter of Pride Of Dubai found courage under fire, gritting her teeth and denying Giga Kick a second mega-payday to win by a head, with Growing Empire lasting for third.
The performance gave resounding impetus to her claim of her being the ‘Iron Lady’, with Ciaron Maher’s steed showing there is no tougher horse in training.
“You know, we thought she was in career best form, and she got her conditions to suit,’’ Maher said.
“We said at the barrier draw, she’s got an uncanny knack of running very well from any gate.
Camera IconBella Nipotina wins the 2024 Everest for jockey Craig Williams Credit: Simon Merritt/Simon Merritt / Western Racepix
“Wide, inside, doesn’t matter. And yes, Craig, beautiful ride. You know, to have the balls to do that.”
“She’s a bit like me. She doesn’t like to miss out on a carnival. So, no, no, she’s a beautiful horse to train.
“She’s been elite for like five years. It’s unbelievable.”
“She trains up on the beach and she’s been at Bong Bong the last two weeks and just the whole team, it’s unbelievable.”
So seldom do horses provided a peak performance this late in their career, with Bella Nipotina’s Everest climb coming at start 55.
Hoop Williams devised the ingenious tactical ploy with Maher in advance, with their calculations proving spot on.
“Well, we didn’t draw the barrier and we were just that confident in the horse,’’ Williams said.
“I spoke to Ciaron, and he said, ‘I love the plan, let’s go and do it, let’s execute it.’
“With a delay, I’m thinking, oh my goodness, but luckily we’ve got great barrier attendants and she was in the zone today and she jumped out well and I just went forward.
“I came back, I’m happy to be three wide. In the zone. So I gave her a rest. Then I thought, I’ll challenge her early because she felt like if anything comes to her, she’s going to hold them off and she did today.
“So luckily for me they had the ideas, I had the horse to deliver.”
The race was delayed due to the late scratching of highly touted three-year-old Traffic Warden after an incident in the starting stalls.
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