STELLA BELLA INDEED

A sister to Te Akau bought and trained Group One winner and million-dollar earner Campionessa, Stella Ma Bella (3 f Contributer – Bella Carolina, by O’Reilly) confirmed her ability with an impressive victory in the $18,500 Shackell Electrical Maiden 3YO 1400 metres on 7 December at Te Aroha - becoming the stable's seventh win in under 48 hours.

Stella Ma Bella finished strongly for third in a trial on 30 October at Taupo, with jockey Craig Grylls aboard, who stuck with her to finish third when debuting in the Maiden 1230 metres on 16 November at Rotorua, before the breakthrough win.

Rated a top three chance, Stella Ma Bella began smartly from barrier four to lead, settled to trail at the 800m, ranged ominously outside the leader rounding the home turn, and raced clear inside the 300m to score by three and a half lengths. 

“She’s a lovely filly, this,” said Grylls, on dismounting. “She’s got the breeding behind her, which does count and help a lot. 

“I ended up getting a lovely trip. She began well, a couple went round and I was able to get the trail, and got off when I wanted to. 

“She travelled all the way up to the 250m and I gave her a shakeup and she did it easily. She’d taken a lot out of her debut run and she’s only going to improve again once she gets to a mile and maybe even further.”

On Good3 footing, she ran 1400 metres in 1:22.3, last 600m in 35.0, and paid $3.00 & $1.50 on the NZ TAB tote. 

“It was great to get that win with Stella Ma Bella,” said Mark Walker, training partner with Sam Bergerson. 

"Campionessa is a full-sister and stable favourite for years and she had terrific longevity and soundness. 

“It’s great to get a win for Simms Davison and the Mapperley Stud team, and she’s a filly that will keep maturing and we expect her to develop into a really nice filly and mare. 

“I think she’ll appreciate getting over more ground, too, and she looks an exciting prospect.”

On course assistant trainer Reece Trumper said: “It was a great ride by Craig (Grylls) and thanks to Simms Davison (Mapperley Stud) for giving her to us to train. 

“We’ve obviously had a lot to do with the family, having trained the full-sister Campionessa, so to have a filly of her calibre in stables is phenomenal, and big thanks to Mapperley Stud because it’d usually sell a horse like this. For Simms to retain her and give it to us, we’re very thankful.

“We have to consider some races through the summer for her and a race like the Group 2 Eight Carat (1600m) on Boxing Day at Ellerslie, is a race we’d have to consider.

“Te Aroha Jockey Club has put on a wonderful day of racing and we’re very pleased.”

Bred and offered for sale by Mapperley Stud, where sire Contributer stood, Campionessa was from his first crop, purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $60,000 at the 2019 Gold Coast National Yearling Sale, and owned by Te Akau Campionessa Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-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.  

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 29 races, including Campionessa, who won the Zabeel Classic (Gr. 1, 2050m) and four Group Two races, and stakes winners Tennessee (Per Incanto), who won the Wellesley Stakes (Listed, 1000m), and Leedox (Time Test) in the Futurity Stakes (Listed, 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 by Rhiannon Smith. 

Photo: Race Images NZ