WINNER: Stella Bella Beautiful

A sister to Te Akau purchased and trained Group One winner and million-dollar earner Campionessa, Stella Ma Bella (4 m Contributer – Bella Carolina, by O’Reilly) resumed with a strong victory in the $40,000 Rating 65 1300 metres on Monday at Te Rapa.

Having confirmed her ability with an impressive Maiden win over 1400 metres last season, Stella Ma Bella remained tucked in behind when finishing strongly for fourth in a trial on 6 October at Matamata, and rated a top three chance first-up.

Ridden by the country's leading jockey Michael McNab, Stella Ma Bella positioned between runners in midfield, quickened into the clear turning for home and kept unwinding with a well-timed finish.

“She jumped and travelled and picked up well off a steady tempo,” McNab said. “She won well, in at the right time of year and she’ll get through the grades. She’s a nice type.”

In the NZB Ready To Run Trainers Series race, Stella Ma Bella ran 1300 metres in 1:17.4, last 600m in 34.5, and held firm in betting to pay $3.50 & $1.70 on the NZ TAB tote.

The win notched the fifth Labour Weekend win for Te Akau trainers Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson, highlighted by Sword Of Stars (3 f Sword Of State – Angelica Hall, by Guillotine) scoring a classy victory in the $100,000 War Decree Stakes (Gr. 3, 1400m). 

“Michael (McNab) got her into a lovely spot and it was a really good fresh-up performance to find the line like she did,” Walker said.

“She’s always shown promise. We know the family well, being a full-sister to Campionessa and like her this mare will continue to improve with time and racing.

“It’s great to get another win for Simms Davison at Mapperley Stud, who owns and breeds from the mother (Bella Carolina). 

“She’ll advance to Rating 75 grade now, but we do think she’ll measure up and keep getting better as a four and five-year-old.”

On course, assistant trainer Reece Trumper said: “We were very pleased with the way she presented for her first-up run, today, and she trialled up very well in preparation.

“Michael (McNab) really suits these types of horses that need to be ridden quietly from the barriers, but he had the revs up turning for home. 

“She lengthened out late and once she gets over more ground, she’ll be more competitive. 

“She’s really grown into a physical mare and looks amazing. The team have done a wonderful job with her at home.  She’s not the easiest horse to train, but full credit to the track work riders and our vets Ronan (Costello) and Tara (McCrissican) and the farriers that work with her.”

Now the winner of two from five, Stella Ma Bella is following in the footsteps of her illustrious sister. 

Bred and offered for sale by Mapperley Stud, where sire Contributer (High Chaparral) stood, Campionessa was from his first crop. Purchased by Sir David Ellis for $60,000 at the 2019 Gold Coast National Yearling Sale and owned by Te Akau Campionessa Syndicate (Mgr: Lady Karyn Ellis MNZM), her 41 starts yielded 11 wins, 12 places, and over $1.4 million in prize money. 

Australian Middle-Distance Horse of the Year, Contributer (High Chaparral) was a dual Group One winner in the Chipping Norton (1600m) and Ranvet Stakes (2000m), and Champion Second Season Sire in New Zealand.

His sire, High Chaparral (Sadler’s Wells), won six Group One races including the English and Irish Derbies and now a prolific sire of sires.  

Her dam Bella Carolina, by Champion Broodmare Sire O’Reilly (Last Tycoon), won three times to 1400 metres and continues doing a great job at stud to leave seven individual winners of 33 races, including Campionessa, who won the Group 1 Zabeel Classic (2050m) and four Group Two races, and stakes' winners Tennessee (Per Incanto), who won the Listed Wellesley Stakes (1000m), and Leedox (Time Test) in the Listed Futurity Stakes (1400m). 

In addition, the stallions in the pedigree are among the best to ever stand in New Zealand: Champion Sire O’Reilly, and in turn Centaine, and Noble Bijou, while the Contributer/O’Reilly mating carries a cross of immortal sire Northern Dancer. 

Stella Ma Bella was strapped Ajay Kuchekar. 

Photo credit - Kenton Wright - www.raceimages.co.nz