Picture: Darren Winningham
Ciaron Maher did a double take when Bella Nipotina first strode into his steady.
The primary time Ciaron Maher set eyes on Bella Nipotina, he might see instantaneous parallels with one other of his grand mares.
These similarities will tackle a brand new dimension at Eagle Farm on Saturday if Bella Nipotina can emulate the horse she has revived reminiscences of, Srikandi, by profitable the Group 1 Tatt’s Tiara (1400m).
Srikandi gave Maher his sole win within the fillies’ and mares characteristic in 2015, her victory approaching the again of a Stradbroke Handicap success, whereas Bella Nipotina will likely be chasing the Doomben 10,000-Tatt’s Tiara double.
In addition to each being top-class mares, Maher says Srikandi and Bella Nipotina have a variety of traits in frequent.
“They’re very related varieties, very related demeanours, very related in each manner,” Maher mentioned.
“Their make-up, their conformation, even their color.
“I believed she wasn’t fairly as sturdy as Srikandi after we first bought her, however she has matured into a really related horse.”
Bella Nipotina has advanced right into a darling of the turf, famend for her bravery and fortitude in profitable eight of her 51 begins and recording one other 23 minor placings, her newest effort a slender second within the Stradbroke Handicap.
She conceded winner Stefi Magnetica six kilos in Queensland’s showpiece race and returns to set weights situations on Saturday, not even the prospect of barrier 17 for the second race in a row flustering Maher.
“I don’t fear an excessive amount of about limitations together with her,” he mentioned.
“She had a horror gate final begin and over the house of her profession – within the Moir (Stakes) sooner or later she drew badly and he or she nonetheless ran second and that was round The Valley.
“She has been simply as efficient from vast as inside, and no rhyme or motive for why.”
Bella Nipotina has had a busy marketing campaign and for Maher, that has been again of thoughts.
The Tiara will likely be her ninth run in a preparation that kicked off in Melbourne in February, encompassed a visit to Perth for The Quokka and likewise Sydney and Brisbane carnival bids.
Maher travelled to Queensland final week to forged an eagle eye over Bella Nipotina, looking for a unfavourable and pull up stumps, however he couldn’t fault her.
“I watched her do a chunk of labor on Saturday with a view to being very crucial, however she is simply thriving,” he mentioned.
“She’s having fun with her time up there. I feel she even appears to be like higher.”
Bella Nipotina is a stable $2.70 favorite, whereas stablemate Semana can be given a present as a $12 likelihood.
The winner of the Triscay Stakes earlier this 12 months, she drew the surface gate within the Stradbroke and bought too far out of her floor however was warming up late.
“When she missed the beginning, that was mainly her race executed,” Maher mentioned of the Stradbroke.
“She appears to be like incredible, I’m rapt with the way in which she has bounced by means of it, and her work appears to be like good.
“It is a race we now have focused for her for fairly some time and 1400 is good.”
Dylan Gibbons maintains his affiliation with Semana, whereas Ryan Maloney has picked up the plum experience on Bella Nipotina, changing common hoop Craig Williams who’s within the Ukraine on a humanitarian mission.
*Present prospects solely. 2nd Racing guess. Excl SA & WA. T’s & C’s apply. Gamble responsibly.
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