Written by Paul Vettise
Lindsay Park pulled the right rein when they decided to give Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai) a first-up crack at black type and the filly duly boosted her value with a timely first victory at Caulfield.
Tom Dabernig and Ben Hayes had been considering a softer option with her, but a sparkling trio convinced them to aim higher and take on Saturday’s G3 BECK Probuild Quezette S. and she duly romped home to shed her novice tag.
While Bella Nipotina had gone winless in seven outings last season, she banked more than $550,000 mainly due to her runner-up finish in the Inglis Millennium at Warwick Farm in the summer.
“She’s been a very unlucky horse in a number of her races and got knocked off by some really nice types,” Hayes said.
Bella Nipotina hadn’t raced since she finished fourth in the Listed Dequetteville S. at Morphettville in April, but her lead-up efforts swayed the stable into having a crack at the Quezette and it proved a masterstroke.
“We were going to go to a maiden race, but she trialled so well we decided to come here and it’s proved a very good decision. It’s a huge result,” Hayes said.
“We were going to go to a maiden race, but she trialled so well we decided to come here and it’s proved a very good decision.” – Ben Hayes
Bella Nipotona showed gate speed to sit outside the leader and when Michael Rodd let the filly have her head on straightening she quickly changed up a gear to dash away and score by 2l.
Hayes said they had a few options with Bella Nipotina, but would first see how she came through her seasonal debut.
“We’ll wait and see how she pulls up. She is a filly that does feel her runs so we’ll see how she does and we could look at races like the Atlantic Jewel S. and the Cap d’Antibes S.,” Hayes said.
Bella Nipotina was offered at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale by Rosemont Stud and purchased for $80,000 by Lindsay Park, Andrew Williams Bloodstock and Mt Hallowell Stud.
She is the first representative to the races for Bella Orfana (Star Witness), who is a half-sister to the G2 Gilgai S. winner and multiple Group 1 placegetter Hallowell Belle (Starcraft {NZ}) and the G3 WATC Champion Fillies’ S. winner Fuddle Dee Duddle (Red Ransom {USA}).
Further back in the fillies’ pedigree is the G1 Caulfield Guineas winner In Top Swing (Beautiful Crown {USA}).
Bella Nipotina as a yearling
Another genuine filly in River Night (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) was also sound on her return in finishing runner-up and the longshot Aquagirl (Headwater) belied her 50 to one starting price by claiming third.
Agreeable (Sebring) caught the eye with her effort for fourth while the favourite Parlophone (I Am Invincible) wasn’t on her best behaviour. She was tardily away and settled last before making some headway into sixth spot.
