The below article by Brad Waters for Racenet was written after BELLA NIPOTINA'S impressive 2 length Group 3 win:
Favourite backers were out of business after 200m but Bella Nipotina picked the perfect race to shed her maiden status in Saturday’s Group III Quezette Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield.
Group I winners Alinghi, Bel Mer, I Am A Star and Sunlight all won the Quezette Stakes before Bella Nipotina joined those stars on the honour roll with her display of speed.
The $3 favourite Parlophone made Bella Nipotina’s task easier when she tried to buck soon after the start, which cost her a few lengths, but winning rider Michael Rodd said his mount didn’t behave perfectly either.
“Early in the race she was a little bit keen. I had to steady her up. She flicked her head up once or twice but she came back underneath me nicely,” Rodd said.
But Bella Nipotina was all business when Rodd asked her to quicken early in the straight.
Bella Nipotina beat off the honest River Night before the three-year-old strode to a two-length win, which belied her $21 starting price.
“She’s always had the ability but couldn’t put it together,” Rodd said.
“But as (co-trainer) Ben (Hayes) said to me after the race, she’s more mature now and she sustained that speed and she quickened off it this time.”
Hayes said he and training partner Tom Dabernig considered giving Bella Nipotina an easy assignment in a maiden but her jumpouts convinced them to go for a Group race with the daughter of Pride Of Dubai.
“She has been a very unlucky horse in her races to date, she has been knocked off by some really nice horses,” Hayes said.
“Off her trials it looked like she had really improved but we weren’t sure.
“We were going to go to a maiden but she trialled so well so we changed plans and we went here to go to a stakes race so it was a very good decision. It was a huge result.”
Photo credit: Pat Scala/Racing Photos