Big Spring Ahead for Bella Nipotina

A year ago, Bella Nipotina (4m Pride of Dubai x Bella Orfana by Star Witness) won her first stakes race taking out the Group III MRC Quezette Stakes at Caulfield and a year on the daughter of Pride of Dubai has returned to the scene of her biggest success to win the $130,000 open mares event over 1100m.

Trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, Bella Nipotina led all the way for Josh Richards to win by half a length taking her overall record to two wins and nine placings from 19 starts with prizemoney in excess of $900,000.

It was only her second run for her new trainers after previously being prepared by the Lindsay Park team.

"Her record suggests that she is a bit of a non-winner, but she ran in a lot of very good races and wasn't beaten far in them,” said David Eustace.

“She should gain a lot confidence from that. She had a bit of time between runs, one jump-out. She'll come on plenty for it.

“It was a beautiful ride from Josh. He rated her perfectly and didn't go for her too early. He just let her build. It's a really nice result for the owners."'

Bella Nipotina will now target Black type races as the spring unfolds with the Group I MRC Sir Rupert Clark Stakes a possibility.

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 partners at Longwood Thoroughbred Farm and they retain a share in her ownership.

She is the first foal of Bella Orfana, a placed sibling 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 Nipotina has been a great flagbearer for Pride of Dubai, who stands this spring at a fee of $22,000