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| Staff Writer |
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Bella Nipotina, one of Australia's greatest sprinting mares, has been retired from racing and will be offered for sale at public auction in May.
Standing tall in the Australian racing landscape, only the legendary Winx has earned more prizemoney than the US$22,757,625 amassed by Bella Nipotina during her remarkable 57-start career. The daughter of Pride Of Dubai reached her pinnacle when claiming The Everest last year, adding to her three other Group One victories.
Ciaron Maher, who trained the mare for the majority of her career, paid tribute on Tuesday, describing her as "the toughest racehorse he has ever trained."
"Bella was the most consistent and toughest racehorse I have had the pleasure of training," Maher said. "She has given me some of my biggest thrills in racing and has had a wonderful career. I feel honoured to have been part of her journey, and the last 12 months have shown the true makings of a genuine Australian sprinter."
Breaking through at the highest level in the 2022 Manikato Stakes, Bella Nipotina demolished her rivals by nearly five lengths. Her consistency was perhaps most evident in 2024, racing 14 times across four different states while finishing outside the top four on just one occasion.
Originally trained by the Hayes family alongside Tom Dabernig, the sprinting star transferred to Maher and David Eustace in August 2021. Now retired from the track, the darling of Australian racing awaits her next chapter at auction in May.