Never further back than fourth in seven previous starts, talented Pride of Dubai filly Bella Nipotina picked the right day to cast off maiden status scoring a dominant victory in the Group III MRC Quezette Stakes (1100m)at Caulfield on Saturday.
Stakes-placed last season and second in the lucrative $2million Inglis Millennium, the Lindsay Park trained Bella Nipotina was long overdue to win a race and got the job done in style.
She zoomed to the line for Michael Rodd to win by two lengths taking her overall record to one win and three placings from eight starts with prizemoney topping $647,000.
“She was great, her form was there to be seen,” said Michael Rodd, who was winning his first stakes race here in a long time following a stint overseas riding in Singapore.
“She’s always had the ability, but couldn’t quite put it together, although Ben (Hayes) said to me after the race he just thinks she’s more mature now.”
An $80,000 Inglis Premier purchase for Lindsay Park Racing / Andrew Williams Bloodstock / Mt Hallowell Stud from the Rosemont stud draft, Bella Nipotina was bred by Michael Christian and partners at Longwood Thoroughbred Farm and they retain a share in her ownership.
She is the first foal of Bella Orfana, a placed sibling by Star Witness to Group winners Hallowell Belle and Fuddle Dee Duddle from the family of Group I Caulfield Guineas winner In Top Swing.
Bella Orfana has a two year-old filly by Capitalist that passed in at Inglis Premier and is due to foal to Trapeze Artist.
Bella Nipotina is the third stakes-winner for Pride of Dubai and is his second in Australia.
The reigning Champion Australian First Season Sire, Pride of Dubai stands at Coolmore this spring at a fee of $38,500.
