Bella Paola (foaled 1955) was a French Thoroughbred racehorse who won several major races in France and Britain including the classic 1,000 Guineas and Epsom Oaks in 1957.

Bella Paola
SireTicino
GrandsireAthanasius
DamRhea II
DamsireGundomar
SexMare
Foaled1955
CountryFrance
ColourBrown
BreederFrançois Dupré
OwnerFrançois Dupré
TrainerFrançois Mathet
Record10: 7-1-13
Major wins
Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte (1957)
Grand Critérium (1957)
Prix Imprudence (1958)
1,000 Guineas (1958)
Epsom Oaks (1958)
Prix Vermeille (1958)
Champion Stakes (1958)
Awards
Timeform rating 131
Timeform top-rated three-year-old filly (1958)

Background

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Bella Paola was a big, powerful brown filly, standing 16.3 hands high, bred by her owner François Dupré. Although she was foaled in France her ancestry was predominantly German: she was sired by Ticino, who won the Deutsches Derby and three renewals of the Grosser Preis von Berlin. She was sent into training with François Mathet at Chantilly

Racing career

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In 1957, Bella Paola finished third in the Prix Yacowlef on her debut and then won the Prix Georges de Kerhallet at Clairefontaine, the Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte and the Grand Critérium. She was rated the second best two-year-old in France – only her stablemate Texana was rated superior to her. Dupré and Mathet were always keen to attack the top prizes in England and Bella Paola won both the 1,000 Guineas and The Oaks. In the former she was ridden by Serge Boullenger, but because of military service he was not allowed to ride at Epsom and Max Garcia replaced him. Also runner-up in the Prix du Jockey Club, Bella Paola ran disappointingly in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, but ended her career with victory in the Champion Stakes.

Stud record

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At stud her best foal was Pola Bella, who won the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and was second in the Prix de Diane before breeding several winners, including Val Divine.

Pedigree

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Pedigree of Bella Paola
Sire
Ticino

1939

Athanasius

1931

Ferro Landgraf
Frauenlob
Athanasie Laland
Athene
Terra

1929

Aditi Dark Ronald
Aversion
Teufelsrose Robert Le Diable
Rosanna
Dam
Rhea

1950

Gundomar

1942

Alchimist Herold
Aversion
Grossularia Aurelius
Grolle Nicht
Regina

1867

Indus Alcantara
Himalaya
Reine Douilly Pharos
Hesione

References

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