The leading Queensland rider paired up with master trainer Ciaron Maher to win the Group 1 Queensland Oaks aboard $101 chance Socks Nation earlier in the winter and will be Maloney’s shortest priced favourite in a Group 1 since he partnered Alligator Blood in the 2020 Australian Guineas.
Maloney admits he was surprised as anyone to get the call up, revealing Maher called him during a recent round of golf to deliver the news.
“When I got the call up, I was playing golf and I thought he was just calling to ask me to gallop one for him,” Maloney said.
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“He asked me if I would be interested, so of course I said I was, so in the mix I went.
“It’s a great ride to be picking up in a Group 1, that’s for sure. Winning the Oaks certainly would have helped my cause, there are a few jockeys away as well which helps.
“She’s up there with Alligator Blood when it comes to best chances I have had in a Group 1.”
It comes as superstar James McDonald will look to round out his golden season with victory aboard second favourite C’est Magique.
McDonald sits on 98 Group 1 winners and will again team up with Chris Waller aboard the $8 chance, who was a dominant winner of the Group 2 Dane Ripper on Stradbroke day.
It will be the just the second start the mare has had for Waller, after she was purchased by Coolmore at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale earlier this year for $1.7m.
Bella Nipotina could become the star of the Queensland winter with victory on Saturday, where she is a $2.25 chance with TAB.
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The mare has overcome foot issues all winter to win the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 and along with second placings to I Wish I Win and Stefi Magnetica in the Kingsford Smith Cup and Stradbroke Handicap.
The rising seven-year-old is in career-best form and overcame significant hurdles to almost win Queensland’s greatest race last week.
Considered a wet track specialist by most, Bella Nipotina produced a huge performance on a hard Eagle Farm surface in what was her first trip over 1400m.
Originally published as Revealed: Ryan Maloney gets shock call up to ride Bella Nipotina in G1 Tattersall’s Tiara