Bella Nipotina set for Black Caviar Lightning Stakes return
Ciaron Maher credits the variety of training establishments the stable can utilise in bringing out the best in Bella Nipotina who is on the cusp of starting another campaign.
Bella Nipotina is slated to run in the Group 1 Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on Saturday, kick starting her tenth campaign.
The daughter of Pride Of Dubai started her career as a two-year-old with David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig before transferring to the care of Ciaron Maher and David Eustace for her three-year-old season.
Maher and Eustace travelled the mare extensively, racing her on the eastern seaboard of Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne along with trips to Adelaide and Perth.
Rarely has Bella Nipotina disappointed Maher.
Maher said the rising seven-year-old has returned in outstanding order and completed her preparation for the Lightning Stakes by finishing second in a Cranbourne 800m trial last week.
Bella Nipotina spends the majority of her time down at Maher’s Fingal property on the Mornington Peninsula.
“She was trained at a farm when she was in Sydney when she beat the Joe Pride horses (Private Eye and Think About),” Maher said.
“She was trained on the beach up there and she trains down at Fingal, which is our beach place down here.
“She likes that softer environment.”
Bella Nipotina commenced her autumn campaign 12 months ago running third in the Lightning Stakes behind then stablemate Coolangatta and I Wish I Win.
She then went on to run second to Imperatriz in the William Reid Stakes and third in The Quokka over in Perth.
“She ran a slashing race last year and she’s just an honest mare,” Maher said.
“I’m rapt with her.
“She looks as good as she ever has, if not better and she trialled up pretty well.”
Maher will unlikely see Bella Nipotina’s preferred ground that has some give in it, but a potential transfer to Sydney later in the autumn might see those conditions prevail.
“I’ve been saying for years I can’t wait to see her on a wet track, but we haven’t been able to find one,” Maher said.
“Last spring in Sydney it was hard, so maybe up there in the autumn we might get a wet one.”
More Racing News
Magic Millions carnival a goal for Godolphin’s Fleetwood
With a racing business built primarily on Darley homebreds, Godolphin’s participation at the Magic Millions carnival has been almost exclusively restricted to wild card qualifiers. Outside of notable exception Exhilarates, the winner of the 2019 Magic Millions Classic, trainer James Cummings hasn’t been flush with options for the Gold Coast features. However, following...
Three in a row for Herbert Park
While not in the ownership of Herbert Park and no longer involved in the Tony Noonan stable, former Melbourne Cup winning trainer Mick Robbins would have enjoyed the filly’s win at Caulfield. Robbins was celebrating his 94th birthday on Saturday and Noonan sent out a special birthday wish to the former trainer and...
In-form Jones gets another One home at Randwick
A strong ride on iron mare One Aye at Randwick has delivered Reece Jones his fourth win in the space of a week and the young hoop is focused on continuing that momentum into the new season. Jones was part of the emerging group of apprentices coming through the Sydney ranks last year...
James Cummings predicts Rosy future for emerging Tarpaulin
James Cummings will give brilliant Randwick winner Tarpaulin an opportunity to chime into the early carnival races, nominating a Golden Rose lead-up as the colt's immediate target. Starting a $1.80 betting app favourite, the youngster demolished his rivals in Saturday's Ranvet Handicap (1100m), cruising to the front at the top of the straight...
Public Attention set to target Caulfield Guineas
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr stable have some ambitious plans for Public Attention after his debut win at Caulfield. The Written Tycoon colt took out the MRC Chairman’s Club Handicap (1200m) on Saturday to follow the victory of former stablemate Ourboros in the race 12 months ago. Ourboros went on...
Kris Lees back to test Sydney waters with Bubba’s Bay
Having ended her most recent campaign with a hat-trick of wins in Brisbane, Bubba’s Bay is being given another opportunity to prove her wares in the tougher Sydney arena. Trainer Kris Lees says the four-year-old has returned a more furnished horse this preparation and he is keen to see how she...
One Aye developing an iron mare reputation
Less is more when it comes to the training regime of in-form Canberra mare One Aye , who is preparing to line up for her14th campaign run at Randwick. The six-year-old kicked off her current preparation at Moruya in December and has raced at least once a month since, highlighted by her...
Phillip Stokes fillies head to Caulfield races
Phillip Stokes is set to kick-start a long campaign for Comanche Miss that he hopes may lead to a Group 1 in late spring. The MRC Chairman’s Club Handicap (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday will see Comanche Miss line up for only the second time with the long-term aim being the...
Top filly revives fond memories for Vern Brockman
Octogenarian trainer, Vern Brockman says emerging three-year-old Toropa is trending in the right direction and will progress to Saturday grade after keeping her unbeaten record intact at Belmont on Wednesday. The excitement continues to grow for Toropa, a $230,000 Perth Magic Millions purchase, who met the expectations of punters again when...
Dictionary the word at Caulfield races
A few extra days but considerably more prize money has led trainer John Moloney electing to run Dictionary at Caulfield. Dictionary was also down to run at Sandown on Wednesday, but with $175,000 and a further $30,000 in bonus money of offer, the VOBIS Gold Stayers (2400m) on Saturday was a more attractive...