Veteran mare Bella Nipotina storms home to win The Everest: ‘I don’t know what to say, she is just a freak!’

  • The seven-year-old did not have a favorable barrier draw
  • Caught wide without cover
  • It made no difference as jockey Craig Williams rode the mare to victory

Seven-year-old mare Bella Nipotina has won the $20 million The Everest (1200m) at Randwick, the world’s richest race on artificial turf.

Ridden by Craig Williams and trained by Ciaron Maher, Bella Nipotina raced wide off the pace and finished strongly in the straight to narrowly win from 2022 winner Giga Kick.

“We pulled gate 12, all week we were worried she was going to be caught three deep with no cover,” owner Michael Christian said.

‘She was. But she was still good enough.

“I don’t know what to say, she’s just a freak.”

The mare held off runner-up Giga Kick, who rode Williams to victory in the 2022 edition of The Everest.

It was sweet revenge for the jockey, who was dumped as Giga Kick’s rider after a controversial ride in the McEwen Stakes last spring, but defeated his former mount when it mattered.

“It’s very, very special,” Williams said.

“Again, I can’t do without Bella’s performance. We had drawn twelve. We were hoping for more rain, but she liked the track and the plan was: Ciaron Maher said: let’s trust her. We can be broad, let’s not be negative, let’s be positive. Let’s go.

‘I’m lucky to know her. When I went to the gate today I told Ciaron I said she was moving well. “And before I gave her a pat and a hug, she was ready to go.”

The third house was Growing Empire, with Lady Of Camelot in fourth.

The seven-year-old mare Bella Nipotina has won the richest race on grass, the Everest

Trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace watch as jockey Craig Williams rides the mare to victory

Bella Nipotina started with $7.35 on the NSW bag and earned $7 million with the win.

Trainer Ciaron Maher said she was in the best shape of her career and was given the right conditions.

“We said at the draw that she has an uncanny ability to run very well from every gate, wide, inside, it doesn’t matter,” he said,

‘Craig, nice ride, to have the balls for that.

“And to do this so late in her career, starting 54th is unbelievable.”

Veteran Channel 7 racing broadcaster Bruce McAvaney declared it perhaps ‘the best Everest yet’.

‘Beautiful breed! Incredible, classic run down the straight between two beautiful horses,” said McAvaney.

Channel 7 horse racing expert Katelyn Mallyon said: “She is simply stunning, this mare. She is the most authentic mare I have ever seen.

“From putting up such a barrier to being able to make the trip three wide and still keep fighting, a horse that had all that inside with Giga Kick, she deserves all these accolades.”

Godolphin colt Traffic Warden made a late start after becoming difficult in the starting gates.

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