3 minute read
Trainer and jockey quotes after Bella Nipotina claims the Group 3 How Now Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.
Race Result:
1st: Bella Nipotina (C Williams/C Maher & D Eustace) - $3.60F
2nd: Chassis (M Dee/J Price) - $12
3rd: La Mexicana (D Lane/A & S Freedman) - $5
Winning Time: 1:10.75 Last 600m: N/A
Margins: ¾L x Nose
Winning Trainer: Ciaron Maher & Dave Eustace (Ciaron speaking)
"I thought it was going to be dejavu.
"It looked to be her day today. She does seem to have that electric turn-of-foot when she is ridden with that sit. She showed that for us in Queensland nearly beating Away Game.
"I wouldn't have wanted him to wait any longer today but it was a winning ride. Any winning ride is a good ride.
"There's some new owners in this horse. A lot of good clients and great to get a win for them."
What's next: "I'm always one for rolling the dice. There's some races at The Valley. She might need a bit of luck if she goes there again, but there's also those natural progression races (Northwood Plume, Begonia Belle).
"She's in a really good vein of form. Good team effort and good to get the result."
Winning Jockey: Craig Williams
"I didn't have much of an option. I was waiting, waiting, waiting last time and she was unlucky and felt very similar today.
"It's been a tough day, very competitive. I'd like to dedicate the win to Chrissy and Vic. Unfortunately Vic passed away last Thursday. It's one of those things. Unfortunately he's not here. He loved his horse racing and it is one of those hard things as a son when your mum rings you up and gives you that news when she's upset.
"No doubt I had Vic help me plot the course in the last race."
On the horse: "Ciaron likes to space her runs and I got my first introduction to her at the start of this preparation up in Brisbane. I worked her and he gave me a really good understanding of her.
"All of her form had been on-speed. He just felt later through her career that we'd try something different. He was really confident that it would work.
"Even though she didn't win (behind) Away Game with a chequered passage, it was a really tough performance and gave us options.
"She didn't begin the best the other day but the idea was still to take a sit. If we got the run we would have fought the race out but, again, Ciaron was adamant to trust the horse they she's still better with a sit - even though she won second-up when coming back to Melbourne when leading - he just said that at this grade she's more electric."