Bella Nipotina (+600) has come with a withering burst to claim victory in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1200m) on Saturday afternoon, earning her second-career Group 1 victory and her first since the 2022 edition of the Manikato Stakes (1200m).
She’s been racing around Australia prior to Saturday, highlighted by a runner-up performance in the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on April 6, followed up by another honest outing in The Quokka (1200m) at Ascot on April 20.
She had to do it the hard way to finally earn victory this preparation, with the Ciaron Maher-trained mare missing the start and dragged back towards the rear of the field; however, she was guided masterfully by Craig Williams in the end.
There was a genuine tempo thanks to the rank outsider Body Bob (+15000) who was allowed to stride clear, putting a significant gap between himself and the chasing pack, while Mazu (+900) sat to his outside.
TJ Smith Stakes winner Chain Of Lightning (+850) sat in third and had to cart the rest of the field up to them, while the heavily-backed favourite I Wish I Win (+120) got the gun-run under James McDonald back to the inside.
When the race went on the leading pair came back to the rest rather quickly, with I Wish I Win shifting off heels into the clear, bounding to a three-length lead.
You’d be forgiven for thinking he was off and gone with the prize; however, it Bella Nipotina lunging on the wire to score, nailing I Wish I Win, while Espiona (+400) and Private Eye (+900) were left to fight out the minor money.
Ciaron Maher was on course to discuss the win of his iron-mare, speaking to the quality of her performance with all her travel, before crediting Williams outstanding piece of horsemanship.
“She’s phenomenal,” said Maher.
“I’ve really got to thank Tony Gollan and Craig Kavanagh. She was a little bit off when she came up here and their attention to detail is spot on.
“I’ve got to thank my team and James Harding. She actually hasn’t been in a stable for any more than three days over the past two weeks. She was in Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Newcastle and now Brisbane.
“She loves these conditions. I thought the conditions, the track, everything would really suit. Then when we jumped from the barriers I thought we were no chance.
“Craig (Williams) knows her really well. He took his medicine. That was unbelievable.”
Craig Williams was quick to praise everyone involved with the horse before speaking to the ground playing into his favour.
“You can see, Ciaron has won all the good races around Australia, but he has got a huge thrill that goes with her,” said Williams.
“There is a lot of effort that goes into her, and with Tony Gollan up here. It is amazing that trainers are in the business against each other but how supportive they are of one another.
“That is great for the strength of our industry.
“The plan was obviously to use our barrier draw and where we wanted to be. She had a different idea and it was lucky that I had the right horse to manouever but she does relish getting her toe in.
“Credit to Racing Queensland for putting on such great money. Last year we saw Giga Kick, today we see arguably two of our best sprinters in Australia.”