Bella Nipotina to hold court at Chairman’s Sale – Everest winner’s owners choose Inglis to sell their prized seven-year-old

Inglis has won the race to sell reigning Everest winner Bella Nipotina, the second-highest prize money earner in Australian racing history.

The four-time Group 1-winning mare was officially retired on Tuesday, her trainer Ciaron Maher and connections electing not to give the rising eight-year-old daughter of Pride Of Dubai one final racing preparation.

It led to the owners of Bella Nipotina, the winner of $22.757 million in a 57-start career, calling on Inglis and Magic Millions to make submissions to sell the highly valuable mare at auction in May.

And on Thursday night, two days after the grand mare’s racetrack career was officially called to a halt, the decision was made by her syndicate of owners that the tough-as-teak sprinter would be sold at Inglis’ Chairman’s Sale on May 8.

Inglis Bloodstock CEO Sebastian Hutch was delighted to have the opportunity to sell Bella Nipotina and implored breeders to avail themselves of a rare broodmare offering.

“She is one of the most accomplished racehorses in Australian racing history, so it’s a real honour for Inglis to have the opportunity to bring her to market at the Chairman’s Sale,’’ Hutch said.

“Bella Nipotina is the quintessential Australian racehorse, a high-class two-year-old who thrived in competition, progressing to become a world-class, uncompromising sprinter with an insatiable will to win.

“On a very practical level, she possesses a series of attributes that would be desirable in any quality racehorse and for that reason alone it is exciting to think what she might be capable of achieving as a broodmare. 

“We are incredibly grateful to the ownership group for their support of Inglis and are excited to share with them what is going to be a special night at Riverside on May 8.’’

Bidding for Bella – Sales companies pitch for Everest winner as buyers contemplate her price

Bella Nipotina will be sold in May, but by whom, to who and for how much is anyone’s guess. Inglis and Magic Millions are pitching strongly to be able to sell the reigning Everest champion with a decision from the mare’s owners imminent.

The StraightTim Rowe

What Bella Nipotina achieved across five seasons of racing – winning a Manikato, Doomben 10,000, the Tatt’s Tiara and her crowning glory, The Everest – was a dream for her breeder and co-owner, Longwood Thoroughbred Farm’s Michael Christian.

“You embark on racing horses and then breeding horses, which we’ve done for a long time now and you don’t ever think you’ll breed and raise and race one that will achieve what she’s achieved,’’ Christian said.

“It’s all a bit surreal to be honest. It’s been incredible and it’s always been all about her, her toughness, her bravery, her durability, her courage, to be able to keep racing like she did for five seasons and then win an Everest as a seven-year-old, it’s remarkable.

“Her Everest win was mind blowing, really. She drew the outside gate, she sat three wide with no cover and still won. It’s just been an incredible ride and it’s definitely mixed emotions that it’s all coming to an end.’’

Straight Talk Podcast – Rosehill, Peter McGauran and the unanswered questions, plus Bella Nipotina and selling the farm

Welcome to this week’s episode of Straight Talk with Bren O’Brien and Tim Rowe, proudly sponsored by Darley and Inglis.This episode dives deep into the biggest topic the racing world: the potential sale of Rosehill Racecourse.

The StraightStaff Writer

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Bella Nipotina was sold by Rosemont Stud, on behalf of Christian and his brother Brad, as a yearling at the 2019 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale to her initial trainers Lindsay Park and agent Andrew Williams for what is now a steal at $80,000.

“The night is going to be a real celebration of her achievements and it’s going to be all about her and recognising what she’s achieved, it’s going to be a special night for sure, a memorable night,’’ Christian said of Bella Nipotina’s sale-ring appearance at Riverside.

“I just feel so humbled and proud that she earned a reputation of being so tough and uncompromising. That’s what I’m most proud of, that she was never beaten far when she was beaten and that earned her enormous respect from the racing fraternity and we will celebrate all that is Bella Nipotina at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale in May.’’

The first mare to win The Everest, Bella Nipotina’s prize money tally only trails Winx, one of the all-time greats of the Australian turf. 

She will be auctioned at the Chairman’s Sale alongside mares such as I Am Me, Estriella, Group 1 winner Royal Merchant and the Group 1-placed Semana.