Ciaron Maher’s outstanding mare Bella Nipotina has become the second highest prizemoney earner in Australian racing history after taking out the Russell Balding Stakes at Rosehill for the second successive year.
Ridden by Craig Williams, Bella Nipotina settled behind the leaders in a genuinely run 1300m race and looked to have the race in her keeping a long way out, winning by close to two lengths. The Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald pair of Sunshine In Paris and Lady Laguna filled the minor placings.
Not only do Bella Nipotina’s connections walk away with the $1.725 million first prize cheque from today’s win, but they also earned a $1 million for completing The Everest/Russell Balding Stakes double and another $1 million bonus for prevailing in the Sydney sprint series.
“The only way she can do it now is because of her determination, her ability and the people that she has behind her, so fortunately for me, I’ve been the jockey for the last two and a half years and have got to know her really well and had an amazing journey with her,” Williams told Channel Seven.
“We’ve realised that she doesn’t speed up to other horses, we realised that over a period of time, she just decreases slower than the rest of them.
“That’s why she’s like a fine wine, because it’s not the fact that she’s speeding past them, it’s that they’re stopping before she does, and she’s just got the tenacity to keep on going.
“It’s really exciting.”
WATCH: Bella Nipotina’s win in the Russell Balding Stakes