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Group 1 winner set to sell at Magic Millions.
Trainer Will Clarken confirmed Group 1 winner Bella Vella (Commands) has been retired and will now head straight to the Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale next month.
Bella Vella landed Clarken's breakthrough success at the elite level when she led throughout to win last year's Robert Sangster Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) at Morphettville.
The six-year-old mare finished 14th in The Galaxy (Gr 1, 1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday and was scheduled to return to Adelaide to defend her Robert Sangster Stakes crown, but Clarken announced on Wednesday he had decided to call time on her career.
"Although she has come through Saturday's run… in excellent condition, I have decided the travel back to Adelaide for the Sangster and then on to her final destination under our care, the Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale in May, is unnecessary," Clarken said.
"Bella Vella has been a life-changing horse for me, and my priority now is to give her the best chance to be in top condition to demonstrate what a quality mare she is as she starts the path to her new career at stud.
"Since arriving in my stable in May 2019, the good fortune and profile she has brought to Clarken Racing has been untold and far beyond our expectations.
"The overwhelming enthusiasm she put into her race-day performances and her unique character made her an exceptional horse. She was tough, genuine, professional and a pleasure to work with."
Magic Millions bloodstock manager Dane Robinson told Racing & Sports Bloodstock the auction house was honoured to be offering a mare of this calibre.
"Bella Vella is another exciting addition to what is shaping up to be another outstanding Magic Millions Broodmare catalogue," he said. "Her win in the Sangster was the headline of a brilliant career on the track, which also included a win in the Ian McEwen Stakes.
"We are very honoured to be able to add yet another exciting mare to the catalogue and I'm sure she will provide buyers and breeders with a great opportunity and I am sure she will be well received by the buying bench when she goes through the ring in May."
The mare retires the winner of ten of her 34 starts, which along with her victory in the Robert Sangster Stakes, she also won the Ian McEwen Stakes (Gr 2, 1000m) on her first start this season and took out the Hills Railway Stakes (Listed, 1000m) prior to her Group 1 victory. She retires the winner of $899,860 in career prize-money.
Bella Vella joins the likes of multiple Group 1 winner Melody Belle (Commands) and fellow elite level winner Tofane (Ocean Park) set to be offered at the National Sale, which gets underway on May 25.
The catalogue for the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale will be released in the coming weeks.
