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By Ray Hickson

She’s the ‘Iron Lady’ of Australian racing and Bella Nipotina had to call on all her strength to emerge as the 2024 TAB Everest champion (1200m).

Bella Nipotina after winning the TAB Everest (Pic: Steve Hart)

And it was a year of firsts for the nation’s premier sprint – trainer Ciaron Maher’s first win in his first year of runners, she was the first mare to win the race and TAB as slot holder notched its maiden Everest win.

For jockey Craig Williams it was a second, having won in 2022 on the horse he fought off – Giga Kick – and it was a ride that was both cool and gutsy as he was happy to track wide on the mare and rely on her grit.

Maher marvelled at Bella Nipotina’s courage and said it was a deserved win.

“You know, we thought she was in career best form and she got her conditions to suit,’’ Maher said.

“We said at the barrier draw, she’s got an uncanny knack of running very well from any gate.

“Wide, inside, doesn't matter. And yes, Craig, beautiful ride. You know, to have the balls to do that.”

“She's a bit like me. She doesn't like to miss out on a carnival. So, no, no, she's a beautiful horse to train.

“She's been elite for like five years. It's unbelievable.”

Bella Nipotina had been placed in her two lead up runs to the TAB Everest, in the Concorde and the Premiere, and Maher has made a point of mixing up her training to keep the seven-year-old fresh.

She does a lot of her work at the beach and Maher paid tribute to his team for preparing her, as well as his other Everest runners I Am Me and third placed Growing Empire.

“I can't thank my team enough,’’ he said.

“She trains up on the beach and she's been at Bong Bong the last two weeks and just the whole team, it's unbelievable.”

It's a testament to the Maher stable that Bella Nipotina could post the biggest win of her career at start 55.

Williams, who a couple of races earlier won The Kosciuszko on Far Too Easy, said he was more than happy to put his faith in the Maher team to have the seven-year-old in top order so he could pull off such a brave ride in a big race.

“Well, we didn't draw the barrier and we were just that confident in the horse,’’ he said.

“And I spoke to Ciaron, and he said, 'I love the plan, let's go and do it, let's execute it.'

“With a delay, I'm thinking, oh my goodness, but luckily we've got great barrier attendants and she was in the zone today and she jumped out well and I just went forward.

Bella Nipotina wins the TAB Everest

“I came back, I'm happy to be three wide. In the zone. So I gave her a rest. Then I thought, I'll challenge her early because she felt like if anything comes to her, she's going to hold them off and she did today.

“So luckily for me they had the ideas, I had the horse to deliver.”

The race was reduced to 11 runners when Godolphin colt Traffic Warden played up in the gates and was a late scratching.

Check out the replays and results from TAB Everest Day at Royal Randwick