Seven-year-old mare Bella Nipotina has won the $20 million The Everest at Randwick, the world’s richest race on turf.
Ridden by Craig Williams and trained by Ciaron Maher, Bella Nipotina raced wide on the pace and finished strongly in the straight to win narrowly from 2022 winner Giga Kick.
Bella Nipotina is the first mare or filly to win the 1,200-metre race.
Growing Empire was third, with Lady Of Camelot fourth.
Bella Nipotina earned connections $7 million with the victory.
Godolphin colt Traffic Warden was a late scratching after becoming fractious in the starting gates.
Maher, who also trains Growing Empire, was emotional after his first win in the race, before a packed crowd at Randwick.
“She’s a beautiful horse to train,” he told the Seven Network.
“She’s been elite for the last five years and, yeah, it’s unbelievable.”
The Everest was run for the first time as a Group 1, the official top-tier status that had been previously denied it since its inception in 2017 due to its novel slot race format.
AAP
