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Bella Nipotina has given Ciaron Maher and David Eustace a fourth win for the program at The Valley.
Bella Nipotina completed a stakes race double for the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable at Moonee Valley while also completing a race-to-race quartet for her trainers.
After Fast Witness won the Listed McKenzie Stakes (1200m) by a narrow margin, Bella Nipotina had to show her class to claim the Listed Carlyon Stakes (1000m) on Saturday.
Those two victories bookended a quartet of winners for Maher and Eustace with Mayfair Spirit and Mankayan splitting the pair.
Sent out the $2.60 favourite under Craig Williams, Bella Nipotina ran down Mileva ($11) with Extremely Lucky ($2.80) three-quarters-of-a-length away third to claim a fourth stakes race win.
Now a five-year-old with five wins to her credit, Eustace said the plan was to try and claim a Group 1 victory with the mare.
Eustace said the Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate eve was the logical target.
Just how Maher and Eustace get the mare to that target will be determined after they assess how Bella Nipotina comes through Saturday's first-up run.
It was Bella Nipotina's first outing since finishing fifth in the Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettvile in May.
"She is incredibly tough. She's danced every dance really over the last 12 to 18 months," Eustace said.
"She is possibly getting better again and ultimately, hopefully, she can get back here for the Manikato Stakes which has been the plan for a while.
"There's an awful lot of races for her throughout the spring, here in Melbourne, up in Sydney.
"She can travel, she's incredibly brave and it's great to kick off the campaign like this."
Eustace said the Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1000m) back at The Valley in two weeks could be on the agenda, providing the mare recovers well.
"You have to make plans for her, but at the same time she stays 1200 metres, she's effective over 1000 metres," Eustace said.
"She handles good ground, she handles wet, she races well right and left-handed.
"There are plenty of opportunities."
Breaking new ground, 4 at the one track on a metro meeting, and 5 for the day!
— 7HorseRacing (@7horseracing) August 20, 2022
How good is this!@cmaherracing pic.twitter.com/keATMlclID
