Living With Greatness: The Journey After The Glory
From Champion To Peaceful Retirement
The champion who conquered racing's richest prize now grazes quietly among five other mares, her extraordinary achievements invisible to the casual observer. One moment Bella Nipotina was centre stage at Randwick, the next she's simply another horse in Michael Christian's paddock.
"She's living like all horses should and loving life," Christian observes. "But you just look at her and you just think, wow, you had something that no one else has had. That determination, bravery, courage and toughness to achieve something unique and special."
Twelve months have passed since Bella Nipotina became the first mare to claim the Gr.1 The TAB Everest, pocketing A$20 million in Australia's most prestigious sprint. The contrast between her current tranquil existence and the heights she scaled couldn't be starker.
"I think obviously over the 12 months, it's had time to sink in and actually realise the enormity of what she achieved on that day," Christian reflects. "It's surreal."
"To be able to have that accolade, we feel very blessed and humbled by her greatness, because it's every person's dream to be able to do something like that."
A Racing Legend's Extraordinary Career
To understand the magnitude of what Bella Nipotina achieved, one must examine her remarkable racing record. From 57 career starts, she amassed an extraordinary US$15.1 million in prize money, making her Australia's second-highest earning racehorse behind only Winx.
The daughter of Pride Of Dubai captured four Group One victories, including the Manikato Stakes, Doomben Ten Thousand, and Tatts Tiara, before her crowning glory in the headline attraction of the Everest Carnival. Her 11 wins from those 57 starts tell only part of the story, with 26 placings demonstrating remarkable consistency at the highest level.
Racing from age two through seven, she epitomised durability in a sport increasingly dominated by early retirement. Her journey began with a fourth in Caulfield's Debutant Stakes in October as a 2YO, establishing a pattern of competitiveness that would define her entire career.
"We've been in the industry for a long time, so we understand how difficult it is and all the hurdles and obstacles that you face as an owner and breeder," Christian says. "We're under no illusion that this is something extraordinarily unique."
Under Ciaron Maher's guidance from May 2021, she flourished, capturing her first Group One in the 2022 Manikato Stakes at The Valley. Her Queensland winter carnival expedition in 2024 yielded two elite-level victories, setting the stage for her historic A$20?million sprint spectacular triumph.
The Impossible Triumph
What Bella Nipotina achieved on that October afternoon defied every racing convention. At seven years old, she was considered past her prime. As a mare, she carried the weight of every female failure before her in The TAB Everest. When she drew barrier 12 of 12, the widest possible gate, even her connections feared the worst.
"All week, people were asking me who I thought was going to win the race, and I said it's so evenly matched that the horse that gets the best run will win the race," Christian recalls. "So, when she was caught three wide with no cover, that was obviously the worst position."
The race unfolded as their nightmare scenario. Storm Boy kicked up on the inside, leaving Bella Nipotina stranded three wide without cover. At the 700-metre mark, Christian experienced despair.
"I remember I put my hands on my knees and bent over and just had a moment where I thought about how frustrating it is to tick all these boxes, to actually get a horse into this prestigious race, and then just be dealt a blow with a bad gate and a three-wide-no-cover run."What followed transcended sporting achievement.
"It only lasted two, three or four seconds, and I stood up and watched, and she just showed incredible heart and bravery and courage to keep finding and finding and finding," he says. "I just didn't think it was possible, but she did it."
Small Operation, Enormous Achievement
The triumph's magnitude becomes clearer when considering the scale behind it. Longwood Thoroughbred Farm is owned by Christian and his brother Brad and it operates as what Christian calls "a boutique breeder" compared to racing's mega-operations.
"We've had so much luck. We co-bred In Secret, who was a champion 3YO filly winning the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes in the spring and then backing that up winning the prestigious time-honoured Group 1 Newmarket Handicap as an autumn 3YO," Christian reflects on their breeding success.
The mare's journey began with a US$66,000 purchase at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale. That modest investment ultimately returned over US$15 million in prize money.
"When we put her on a truck when she was a yearling, she flipped and cut herself to ribbons, and she was in all sorts of trouble," Christian remembers. "She was cut from head to toe almost. At one stage, we were very concerned about infection, whether she would get through it."
"So to come through that as a yearling and go on to compete with the biggest and best studs in the world on that day is something incredibly special."
Family Triumph
The victory transcended individual achievement through the presence of family. Christian's wife, four of their five children, his brother Brad from Western Australia who part-owns the mare along with his children, converged on Sydney for the week.
"We had a big family breakfast on race morning," Christian recalls. "I actually made a little speech to all the kids, just saying how special it was to be in Sydney on this day and how blessed we were to have a horse running in the G1 Everest that afternoon. Bella has brought us all together in a different city, because my brother lives in Western Australia, where I'm originally from.”
His message was simple. "Win, lose or draw, we’re going to have the best day. Just enjoy the day and everything that goes with it, because the chances are we probably won't have another Everest runner ever again."
When victory came, the emotional impact was overwhelming.
"To be able to share it with my family, watch my wife and, well, four of my five kids at least, was just a very, very special moment," Christian says. “And to have my brother Brad, who parts owns the horse and his children there was also very special. It’s a moment that I'll never forget, and a moment my family will never forget."
Quiet Reflection And Future Dreams
Perhaps the most telling insight into Christian's post-Everest existence is his weekly ritual. Without fail, he returns to that October afternoon through race replays.
"We still watch it. There wouldn't be a week that goes by that we don't watch the race, just to marvel at her bravery and courage," he admits. "Particularly if something's gone wrong or you've had a bad day, you just watch that race and get a big smile on your face and a tear in the eye."
In quiet moments, the surreal nature of their achievement becomes most apparent.
"In quiet moments, certainly from my perspective, I do think about it, and I just feel like, did that actually really happen?" he says.
Today, Bella Nipotina inhabits a vastly different world. She's preparing for her first covering by Zoustar after being bought back by Christian's family for US$2.8 million at the Chairman's Sale.
"There is a lot of natural exercise running in the paddock," Christian notes about her current routine. "We keep a very close eye on their diet and weight to make sure she’s in the best possible condition."
The breeding plans reflect hope for the future. "If she was to have a colt, we’d possibly sell him but if she foals a filly we’ll be torn as to whether we keep her to race. Time will tell!"
The dream naturally involves another Gr.1 The Everest contender. "Are we hoping one day to have another horse worthy of running in the race? Absolutely, we are," Christian states. "How good would it be if one of her foals was able to run in the race?"
If Bella Nipotina could speak, Christian knows exactly what he'd tell her. "I knew you were going to be good, but I didn't think you were going to be this good."
Now, watching his champion graze peacefully, the magnitude of what she accomplished continues to resonate. The roar of the crowd, the pressure of Group One racing, and the weight of expectation have all faded. What remains is a mare at peace, preparing for motherhood, her racing legacy secured forever.
