Bella Nipotina: A Champion Mare’s Next Chapter Begins

The reigning Everest champion, Bella Nipotina, is once again making headlines—this time as she prepares for the next stage of her life. After a record-breaking career that saw her amass over $22 million in prize money, the champion mare is set to go under the hammer at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale on 8 May as a highly sought-after breeding prospect. Her retirement marks the end of an extraordinary racing career spanning more than five years, with 57 starts, 11 victories, and four Group 1 wins. While her time on the track has come to an end, her winning legacy is far from over.

Bred by Longwood Thoroughbred Farm’s Michael Christian, Bella Nipotina was raced by a passionate ownership group, including Christian’s wife, Siobhan Miller, his brother Brad Christian, as well as Tim and Bronny Porter, Wayne and Vicki Pelchen, Mick and Alise Johnston, and Andy Ingersole. From the outset, she displayed immense talent. After three hard-fought Group 1 placings early in her career, she finally broke through for her first elite-level victory in the 2022 Manikato Stakes, storming home in dominant fashion. Her second Group 1 title came in the 2024 Doomben 10,000, followed by two agonisingly close seconds in the Kingsford Smith Cup and the Stradbroke Handicap. She then added another major trophy to her collection with victory in the Tatt’s Tiara. However, it was during Sydney’s 2024 Spring Carnival that Bella Nipotina cemented her place among Australia’s greatest sprinters. Her defining moment came in The Everest, where she delivered a breath-taking performance, overcoming a wide, no-cover run to claim victory in the nation’s richest sprint race.

Throughout her career, Bella Nipotina showcased consistency, toughness, and an undeniable will to win. Trainer Ciaron Maher, who took charge of her career in 2021, praised her resilience and fighting spirit. Her final race came in November 2024 at the VRC Champions Sprint, marking the end of a career that saw her compete across New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, and Western Australia, leaving an indelible mark on Australian racing. She retired with 57 starts, 11 wins—four of them at Group 1 level—and an extraordinary $22.7 million in earnings, making her the highest-earning mare in Australian racing history.

Now transitioning to her next chapter as a broodmare, Bella Nipotina is set to headline the Inglis Chairman’s Sale, joining an elite group of sprinting mares such as I Am Me, Estriella, and Royal Merchant. The Inglis Bloodstock team has acknowledged the rarity of acquiring a mare of Bella Nipotina’s calibre, recognising her as one of the most accomplished racehorses in Australian history. Her sale is expected to attract some of the world’s leading breeders, eager to secure a mare with elite racing credentials, proven durability, and a champion pedigree.

For those who followed Bella Nipotina’s career, her departure from the track is bittersweet. She thrilled racing fans with her tenacity, consistency, and fearless sprinting ability. Now, as she moves on to pass her brilliance to the next generation, her influence on the sport remains strong. Whether it was her gutsy Everest triumph, her dominant Group 1 wins, or her unprecedented career earnings, Bella Nipotina has firmly established herself as one of Australia’s greatest mares. Her next chapter awaits, but her legacy as a champion will endure forever.