Pride of Dubai mare Bella Nipotina has been a busy girl this year lining up in five million dollar sprint races before heading to Doomben for the $1.5million BRC Doomben 10,000 (1200m) on Saturday and the Ciaron Maher trained six year-old pulled out her A game to down the favourite I Wish I Win in a thriller.
A close second in the Group I ATC TJ Stakes in Sydney last month, Bella Nipotina was flown to Perth to run in the $5million The Quokka where she finished a close fourth before setting her sights on Queensland.
Given a perfect ride by Craig Williams, Bella Nipotina arrived on the line to nudge out I Wish I Win to win by a whisker.
"She actually hasn't been in a stable any more than three days over the past two weeks," Ciaron Maher said.
"She was in Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Newcastle and now Brisbane. Unbelievable mare.
"I thought the (soft) conditions, the track, would really suit and then when we jumped from the barriers I thought we were no chance, but Craig knows her really well and he took his medicine."
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.
Now a two time Group I winner, Bella Nipotina has the impressive record of eight wins and 21 placings from 49 starts with earnings topping $9.8million.
Bella Nipotina is the best of two winners from Bella Orfana, a placed sibling by Star Witness to Group winners Hallowell Belle and Fuddle Dee Duddle (dam of Group III winner Brereton) from the family of Group I Caulfield Guineas winner In Top Swing.
Longwood Thoroughbred Farm sadly lost Bella Orfana earlier this year and her last foal is a weanling filly by Trapeze Artist.
Standing at Coolmore at a fee of $22,000, Pride of Dubai has sired three Group I winners this season with Bella Nipotina joining Pride of Jenni and New Zealand trained Desert Lightning.
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