Bella Nipotina has won the 2024 $1.5 million Doomben 10,000 (1200m) race. The six-year-old mare, ridden by jockey Craig Williams, pushed hard to come out on top after starting slow. Trainer Ciaron Maher called the performance “unbelievable”
In the shadow of Bella Nipotina’s strong showing, the betting favourite, I Wish I Win ($2.20), fell short down the stretch, coming in second. Both horses are some of the best sprinters in Australian horse racing.
Bella Nipotina ($7) has been one of the more active horses of the 2024 horse racing season. Before her conquest at the Doomben 10,000, the six-year-old mare narrowly fell short in the TJ Smith Stakes to Chain Of Lightning. She then went from Melbourne to Perth to take part in The Quokka. Bella Nipotina finished fourth in that race, which Overpass won.
This tough journey made her win in Brisbane in the Doomben 10,000 even more unlikely. The travel definitely looked apparent as well.
Bella Nipotina started slow, falling to the back of the pack in the nine-horse race on Saturday. Williams then guided his horse to a late outside run at the top of the straight. This move worked perfectly. With space in front of her, Bella Nipotina pushed hard and overtook fellow top-sprinter I Wish I Win.
Trainer Ciaron Maher was seemingly at a loss for words after Bella Nipotina’s comeback victory.
“She actually hasn’t been in a stable any more than three days over the past two weeks,” said Maher, astonished at how his horse has coped with her tight schedule.
“She was in Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Newcastle and now Brisbane. Unbelievable mare.
“I thought the (soft) conditions, the track, would really suit and then when we jumped from the barriers I thought we had no chance.
“But Craig (Williams) knows her really well and he took his medicine.”
Jockey Craig Williams also spoke about the big victory after the race. The media was keen to ask the 46-year-old about how this race compared to last year’s, which he also won, riding Giga Kick.
In his answer, Williams pointed out how Queensland racing officials have attracted better horses by raising the amount of prize money up for grabs in this race.
“Last year we saw Giga Kick, today we’ve seen two of arguably our best sprinters in Australia as well, so credit to them for putting on the money,” he said.
“You can see Ciaron, he’s won all the big races around Australia and internationally and he’s got a huge thrill out of her. There’s a lot of effort that goes into her,” Williams said.
