Saturday Summary: Bella wears Tiara in Queensland

Cover image courtesy of Inglis

Bella-extraordinaire

What more can be said about the extraordinary Bella Nipotina? (Pride Of Dubai) Few horses display more determination and heart than the Ciaron Maher-trained 6-year-old.

When most would be calling for a time-out, this ‘Iron mare’ has continued to thrive and incredibly improve. After carrying 56kg in the G1 Stradbroke H. and narrowly losing to Stefi Magnetica (All Too Hard), who had 50kg on her back, Maher admitted he was looking for reasons not to run Bella Nipotina in Saturday’s G1 Tattersall’s Tiara. However, he could only find reasons to run the 6-year-old.

With Craig Williams out of the country providing humanitarian aid in war-stricken Ukraine, the pressure landed on Ryan Maloney's shoulders. Maloney had tasted Group 1 success earlier in the carnival on the Ciaron Maher-trained Socks Nation (Sioux Nation {USA}).

It was an easy watch for the connections and legion of fans of Bella Nipotina. Stamping her class, she defeated her consistent stablemate Semana (Winning Rupert), while the imported Bubble Rock (USA) (More Than Ready {USA}) finished third.

The G1 Tattersall’s Tiara is the third elite-level victory for the daughter of Pride Of Dubai and her second this preparation, having won the G1 Doomben 10,000 in May.

Maher was nearly lost for words in his admiration for Bella Nipotina. He told 7HorseRacing, “Ryan looked like he was in control pretty well the whole way. That’s the feeling she gave me leading into Saturday. I came up here on Friday and we galloped her.

“I looked for a reason not to run her, but I actually thought she was better, and that’s how she raced. She was dominant, she’s very consistent, very tough. But I’ve just got a great team. Ryan rode her well; we’ve been mates since we both started in racing. It’s just great. Thanks to Tony Gollan, who we stay with in Queensland. His team has been fantastic.

“Bella just keeps presenting in this sort of form, and that’s not for no reason. She’s been racing essentially every two weeks and arguably has been racing as well as her first start in Queensland. It’s a massive team effort.”

Maher also shared that The Everest is high on the agenda for Bella Nipotina in the spring. “We’re definitely looking at The Everest. I think she’s in career-best form. The sprinters have thinned out, and she’s a mare in form. We won’t give her too long out. We’ll just tick her over in Queensland, give her a couple of weeks off, and work back from The Everest, probably have a run before it. That’s her goal.”

Bella Nipotina was a $80,000 purchase by Lindsay Park Racing, Andrew Williams Bloodstock (FBAA) and Mt Hallowell Stud from the draft of Rosemont Stud at the 2019 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.

Bred by Sarconi Thoroughbreds, Bella Nipotina has won nine races and over $10.9 million in prizemoney. Additionally, she is the 10th Group 1 winner for the Ciaron Maher stable this season.

In form Princess denys Knowledge

It was the in-form Princess Rhaenys (Iffraaj {GB}), who was able to claim a well-deserved stakes victory in Saturday’s Listed Gold Crown at Eagle Farm. The 6-year-old mare, trained by Tony Gollan and ridden by the interstate hoop Blake Shinn, was able to deny the aptly named Deny Knowledge (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai) in the $200,000 contest.

Princess Rhaenys had been racing in good heart, winning a BM90 last start over 1810 metres and finishing fourth in a Group 3 at Doomben earlier in her preparation. However, it was no easy task to defeat Deny Knowledge, who was having her first run for Anthony and Sam Freedman in the Yulong colours after being sold to the Panthalassa Syndicate for $500,000 in May at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.

Gollan told Racing News and Sports, “She’s so much better when she can get a more genuinely run race where she can really relax and get off the bridle and finish off. You can see early on that wasn’t going to be the case.

“She stepped really well, and they just took an eternity to cross her. I was really worried in the run to be perfectly honest. I like her better when she can get smothered up and relaxed, and that never happened. I was always worried about the leader (Deny Knowledge). When we eventually got her down, it was a good result for the team.”

The daughter of Iffraaj (GB) was a $460,000 purchase by Peachester Lodge when presented by Glastonbury Farm at the 2019 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. She is the 99th stakes winner worldwide for her sire and the fourth foal from the O’Reilly (NZ) mare Orinda (NZ), who is also the dam of her full brother, Jon Snow (NZ), a victor of the G1 Australian Derby and the G2 Tulloch S.

Princess Rhaenys has won six races and has placings in the G3 Pam O’Neill S., the Listed Silk Stocking S., and was fourth in the G1 Vinery Stud S. Orinda has an unraced 2-year-old by The Autumn Sun named Flaming Genesis. She foaled a colt by Home Affairs and was served by Coolmore’s Best Of Bordeaux.

Cottee nabs Star

Cottee (Merchant Navy) clinched a Listed victory in Saturday's Tattersall’s Mile at Eagle Farm, thanks to a well-timed ride by the in-form Angela Jones under the guidance of trainer Mark Currie.

The 4-year-old mare defeated the hot favourite, Iknowastar (Star Witness), and the consistent Maracana (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) over 1600 metres.

Jones, who recently won the Listed Ipswich Cup aboard Red Wave (Red Dazzler) trained by Tony and Maddysen Sears, expressed her gratitude: “Big thank you to Mark Currie, he’s been a big supporter of mine and actually gave me my first winner,” she told 7HorseRacing.

“So, it’s fantastic to win a stakes race for him. It’s also great for the owners, Basil Nolan; we know how important it is for these mares to get black-type on their records. I couldn’t be more thrilled. Also, biggest thank you to Cottee for not winning while I was suspended. She’s such a pleasure to ride and gives her all every time.”

Cottee had been in solid form this preparation, with two fourth-placed finishes in her last starts and a 1.8l defeat in the Listed Wayne Wilson S. on Stradbroke H. day. The daughter of Merchant Navy was purchased for $20,000 by Ciaron Maher Racing from the draft of Coolmore Stud at the 2021 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.

She marks the third stakes victory for Merchant Navy, now standing at Kooringal Stud. Notably, all of the stakes performers by the G1 Coolmore Stud S. and Royal Ascot winner have been fillies: Royal Merchant, winner of the G1 Goodwood H., G2 Magic Night S. winner Steel City, Group 3-placed Merchant Queen, and Drisana, who also placed in Group 3 company.

Cottee is the first foal from the Bernardini (USA) mare Rudd Not Too (NZ), a six-time winner including the G2 Rich Hill Mile. Rudd Not Too was initially a $220,000 purchase by Go Racing at the 2014 New Zealand Bloodstock National Sale, later fetching $500,000 at the 2018 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale when purchased by Go Bloodstock and Paul Moroney Bloodstock.

Rudd Not Too has had ups and downs, losing a colt by Snitzel but seeing her filly by Fastnet Rock sell for $480,000 at this year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. She foaled a colt by So You Think (NZ) and returned to the Coolmore-based stallion in the spring.

Jones capped Saturday, winning the Tony Gollan-trained Zarastro (I Am Invincible) in the G3 Healy S. Despite his double-figure odds Zarastro easily accounted for Ghaanati (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Hatchet (Worthy Cause).

It was the eighth victory for the son of Yarraman Park Stud’s Champion Sire I Am Invincible, with success in the Listed Falvelon H. and the Listed Recognition H. earlier in his career. Initially a $1.05 million purchase by Chris Waller Racing and Guy Mulcaster Bloodstock from the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, he was moved on in 2022 through the Inglis Digital October Sale where Tony Gollan Racing paid $32,500.

Zarastro is the first live foal from the G2 Light Fingers S. winner Adrift (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}). She has unraced gelding by Merchant Navy named Helmsman, and a 2-year-old filly by Seascape (I Am Invincible), who won at Gosford. Adrift’s colt by I Am Invincible was purchased for $1.15 million by Kia Ora, TFI, Kestrel Thoroughbreds and Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing at this year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. Adrift was served by Coolmore ‘s Wootton Bassett (GB) last spring.

Cigar smokes rivals

Classy 3-year-old Cigar Flick (Churchill {Ire}) won for the second time this preparation on Saturday. The Chris Waller-trained filly lined up in the $150,000 Tattersalls Life Members QTIS 3YO Fillies Plate at Eagle Farm with Tommy Berry in the saddle and was a 1.5l winner over the local runners Navyonthehighway (Merchant Navy) and Pure Paradise (Capitalist).

Waller’s stable representative Brett Killion told Racingnews and Sports, “That horse up front going lickety-split helped. Cigar Flick’s win has been on rain-affected tracks, so it was a slight concern how she would be and how the track would be here today. Tommy (Berry) plotted a nice path up the inside and was very strong late.”

Berry added, “There was very good speed. She was out of her comfort zone, so I just had to leave her where she was and bank on the beautiful finish that she’s shown in her last few starts. She obviously enjoys getting her toe into the ground, but even though it’s a Good 4 (Eagle Farm), there’s still a bit of give in it.”

Bred by Ingham Racing, Cigar Flick carries the instantly recognisable cerise silks. She has won four races and was placed in the G2 Reisling Stakes as a 2-year-old. Cigar Flick is the first foal from Palmateer, a three-time winner by Fastnet Rock. Palmateer is a half-sister to the outstanding Fangirl (Sebring), whose eight victories include the G1 King Charles III S., the G1 Winx S., and the G1 Vinery Stud S..

Palmateer lost a foal by So You Think (NZ) but has a yearling filly by Flying Artie and foaled a filly by Street Boss (USA) before visiting Justify (USA) last spring.

In Flight takes off

Progressive filly In Flight (Flying Artie) won her fourth race from eight starts (including two placings) at Rosehill on Saturday. The Joseph Pride-trained In Flight, ridden by Jay Ford in the 1100-metre 3-Year-Old BM72, had enough in hand to hold off a charging Disneck (Trapeze Artist), while Eye Of The Fire (Epaulette) was third.

In Flight was placed on debut at Wyong last November but quickly improved to win at Gosford in her following start. She was spelled after finishing second at Kembla Grange behind Spring Lee (Zoustar).

Returning at Gosford, In Flight won again on the Heavy 8 track before a sixth-place finish behind Saturday’s Brisbane winner Cigar Flick (Churchill {Ire}). She then bounced back to win at Rosehill in her last start.

The daughter of the Royal Ascot-producing sire Flying Artie was a $220,000 purchase by Proven Thoroughbreds and Pride Racing from the draft of Goodwood Farm at the 2022 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale.

In Flight is the sixth foal from the Listed-winning Stravinsky (USA) mare Waveline (USA), who is also the dam of the Listed-placed Waimea Bay (All Too Hard). Waveline foaled a colt by Rebel Dane and returned to the Golden Slipper-producing sire in the spring.