The 2024 The Everest has been won by Ciaron Maher‘s outstanding mare Bella Nipotina who did all the work going forward from the outside barrier to sit three-wide no cover and still have enough in the tank at her 55th start to deny former champion Giga Kick victory right on the line in the world’s richest turf race.

The seven-year-old daughter of Pride Of Dubai showed she still had plenty of zest for racing with an incredible performance to enter The Everest history books as the first ever mare to salute in the now $20 million feature.

Jockey Craig Williams secured his second The Everest victory joining three-time champion Kerrin McEvoy as the only riders to take out the six-furlong slot race more than once.

In fact, it was on then three-year-old Giga Kick in 2022 that Williams won his first and it was that horse he had to fight hard to hold out in this year’s edition.

“I couldn’t do it without the performance of Bella. We drew 12, we were hoping for more rain, but the track was to her liking light to her liking and basically the plan was, Ciaron said, let’s just trust her,” Williams said.

“We might be a bit wide, but let’s not be negative, let’s be positive and let’s go forward.

“I’m very lucky I really know her. And going to the gates today, I said to Ciaron, she was just moving so well for her. Before I even gave her a pat and a cuddle, then she really takes off.”

Maher had his first starters in a The Everest field this season saddling-up four and he had two in the trifecta with gun three-year-old Growing Empire running third off an on-pace performance with McEvoy aboard.

You know, we thought she was in career best form and she got her conditions to suit. We said at the barrier draw, she s got an uncanny knack of running very well from any gate.

“Wide, inside, doesn’t matter. And yes, Craig, beautiful ride. You know, to have the balls to do that,” Maher told Sky Thoroughbred Central after the victory.

“I can’t thank my team enough. She trains up on the beach and she’s been at Bong Bong the last two weeks and just the whole team, it’s unbelievable!”

In pre-race sensation the James Cummings-trained fellow three-year-old Traffic Warden for Godolphin was scratched at the barrier after getting worked up by I Am Me and withdrawn on vet’s advice.

There were more surprises to come with Bella Nipotina, coming off a luckless third in the Group 2 Premiere Stakes at the track and trip second-up, flashing out the gates to take up front running.

The Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Storm Boy however responded to the early urgings of his hoop Brenton Avdulla to move up the inside at the 600m and take over in the lead.

That left the iron lady of racing, Bella Nipotina and Williams, wide out without cover and plenty of work to do.

Onto the straight and Storm Boy moved to the centre of the track still leading while the Clayton Douglas-trained Giga Kick with Mark Zahra aboard was making up ground up the inside.

Bella Nipotina moved up with 250m left to travel refusing to give in, fighting back after a brilliant kick by Giga Kick, who looked the winner 100m out, to hit the line first in a photo thriller and deny her rival a second time at the top.

For race sponsor the TAB it was a fairytale The Everest result as they secured their first winner having had a slot in all eight editions now of the event.

“She’s a bit like me. She doesn’t like to miss out on a carnival. So, no, no, she’s a beautiful horse to train,” Maher said of his mighty mare.

“And Michael Christensen and Tim Porter and his brothers and family, you know, what a thrill for them.

“She’s been elite for like five years. It’ s unbelievable.”

Williams meanwhile enjoyed a massive double also having won the $2 million The Kosciuszko earlier in the day aboard Far Too Easy.

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