In what proved to be an unforgettable day for Ciaron Maher Oct. 19, the coach scored his second Caulfield Cup (G1) victory and first Everest (G1) win, in his first yr with runners within the newly anointed group 1.
In profitable the profitable slot race, Bella Nipotina turned the primary mare to land Randwick Racecourse’s AU$20 million extravaganza as she confirmed her customary class and bravado to gamely maintain off quite a few challengers to seize The Everest for her possession group, which incorporates her breeder, Longwood Thoroughbred Farms’ Michael Christian, and slot holder TAB.
Coming into Saturday’s group 1 dash, Bella Nipotina had the ready help of traditional companion Craig Williams within the saddle and was despatched off a AU$9 likelihood within the 11-runner area, with the Randwick observe rated a Soft5.
Certainly one of three runners within the race for her coach, alongside eventual third Rising Empire and I Am Me, who completed tenth, Bella Nipotina had drawn arguably the worst barrier of the trio in gate 12.
Upon leaping, Williams determined to go ahead, with the pair main the sector for the opening phases of the race earlier than then settling behind the 3-year-olds Storm Boy and Rising Empire. Pushed as much as make her problem rounding the house bend, the daughter of Satisfaction Of Dubai had nonetheless not wrestled the lead again with simply 200 meters left within the six-furlong occasion.
Nonetheless, with Storm Boy starting to tire, Bella Nipotina discovered an infinite quantity underneath the urgings of her rider and, with Giga Kick making his problem down the within of the observe, the mare rallied to carry off that rival by a brief head.
The entrance pair completed an extra 1 1/4 lengths forward of Rising Empire in third place, with Golden Slipper (G1) winner Girl Of Camelot simply one other brief head again in fourth.
Williams, who has now been aboard Bella Nipotina for 3 of her 4 group 1 wins, was vastly pleased with the mare publish race.
“I could not do it with out the efficiency of Bella. We drew 12, we had been hoping for extra rain, however the observe was to her liking and mainly the plan was, Ciaron mentioned, let’s simply belief her,” the rider mentioned.
“We could be a bit large, however let’s not be adverse, let’s be optimistic and let’s go ahead.”
Maher, who would later go on to win the Caulfield Cup, minimize an elated determine after the race, and revealed he had loads of confidence for a giant run even after the barrier draw.
“You recognize, we thought she was in career-best type and he or she received her situations to swimsuit. We mentioned on the barrier draw, she’s received an uncanny knack of operating very nicely from any gate,” Maher mentioned.
“I am unable to thank my staff sufficient. She trains up on the seaside and he or she’s been at Bong Bong the final two weeks and simply the entire staff, it is unbelievable.”
Bought for simply AU$80,000 at Guide 1 of the 2019 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale for Lindsay Park Racing, Andrew Williams Bloodstock, and Mt Hallowell Stud from the Rosemont stud draft, Bella Nipotina is the perfect of two winners out of Star Witness mare Bella Orfana.
Duke de Sessa Wires Caulfield Cup for Maher
Maher’s day received even higher when the extremely constant Duke de Sessa lastly received his day within the limelight when making all for an unbelievable success within the Caulfield Cup (G1).
Imported from Eire final yr, the 6-year-old gelding had made 12 begins in Australia previous to Saturday’s characteristic contest, along with his greatest efforts coming when third in each the Zipping Basic (G2) and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G3) in 2023, and fourth on his most up-to-date two outings within the Underwood Stakes (G1) and Turnbull Stakes (G1).
Despatched off an $11 likelihood with Harry Coffey within the saddle for the primary time at a weight of 52 kilograms, the son of Lope de Vega jumped rapidly from barrier 5 and was despatched to the lead by his younger jockey.
Nonetheless main the 18-runner area approaching the house bend, Coffey and Duke de Sessa kicked clear coming down the house straight and couldn’t be caught by the fast-finishing favourite Buckaroo to achieve victory by 1 1/4 lengths on the line.
There was an extra 5 lengths again to the third-placed Land Legend as Chris Waller crammed the second and third spots, whereas the James Cummings-trained Zardozi completed an extra 2 1/4 lengths again in fourth place.
Duke de Sessa wins the Caulfield Cup at Caulfield Racecourse
With Maher at Randwick to witness Bella Nipotina’s gorgeous win in The Everest earlier within the afternoon, secure assistant Jack Turnbull was readily available at Caulfield.
“It is magic to be sincere, simply incredible to get on the cellphone with him (Ciaron), particularly after Bella (Nipotina),” Turnbull mentioned. “Excellent experience by Harry (Coffey). Everybody’s so grateful for Harry, and actually appreciative of him. Everybody is aware of how well-deserved it’s. It is simply wonderful.”
It was the second win within the time-honored group 1 for Maher, having landed it for the primary time in 2016 with Jameka, who was additionally co-owned by the McKennas.
Bred by Newtown Anner Stud, Duke de Sessa is raced by a number of house owners together with Maurice Regan, Col McKenna, and Halo Racing.
Duke de Sessa, who landed a pair of group 3s and a listed contest when skilled by Dermot Weld in Eire, is the perfect of two winners from 4 to race out of the group 3-placed Cape Cross mare Darkish Crusader .
In profitable Saturday’s Caulfield Cup, the gelding turned the twenty fourth particular person group 1 winner for Ballylinch Stud’s Lope de Vega, who shuttled to Australia for 4 seasons between 2011-14.
Ceolwulf Scores Again-to-Again Group 1s
Capping off the day’s group 1 stakes, the Joe Satisfaction-trained Ceolwulf made it back-to-back group 1 victories when taking out Saturday’s King Charles III Stakes (G1) at Randwick after beforehand touchdown the Epsom Handicap (G1) Oct. 5.
Ridden by Chad Schofield, as he had been within the Epsom, the gelded 4-year-old son of Tavistock got here with a booming run down the middle of the observe inside the ultimate 200 meters to disclaim the front-running Satisfaction Of Jenni by a widening three-quarters of a size.
Ceolwulf wins the King Charles Stakes at Randwick Racecourse
There was only a additional neck again to the third-placed My Oberon .
Satisfaction revealed postrace that Ceolwulf is not going to again up in subsequent weekend’s Cox Plate (G1), as a substitute being aimed on the race in 2025.
“They’ll solely go to this point in a single preparation. I might hate to ship the horse to the races and have him not carry out,” Satisfaction informed Racing.com.
“It is solely per week away. I am positive it is an excessive amount of. I at all times wished to win the Cox Plate and he is my Cox Plate horse. I will wait a yr. … I am simply actually grateful to have come throughout a horse like this. The world’s his oyster.”