Bella Nipotina wins world's richest turf race, The Everest

Sydney: Australian sprinter Bella Nipotina, ridden by Craig Williams, outgunned fast finishing Giga Kick in Sydney on Saturday to become the first mar...

Sydney: Australian sprinter Bella Nipotina, ridden by Craig Williams, outgunned fast-finishing Giga Kick in Sydney on Saturday to become the first mare to win the world's richest turf race, The Everest.

The Ciaron Maher-trained seven-year-old stormed through the field in the final 100 metres at a packed Royal Randwick to collect a whopping Aus$7.0 million ($4.7 million) for barely a one-minute dash.

Giga Kick, the 2022 champion with Mark Zahra in the saddle, came second ahead of Growing Empire ridden by Kerrin McEvoy and also trained by Maher.

"It's very, very special, it's what all the hard work is for," said veteran jockey Williams, who rode Giga Kick to her 2022 triumph and steered Bella Nipotina to victory from barrier 12.

"Again, I can't do it without the performance of Bella.