Bella Vella returns from year off with victory

THE extraordinary story of Bella Vella continues.

The Group 1 winner ner made a triumphant return to the races after 12 months off the scene, leading all the way to claim the Group 3 Irwin Stakes at Morphettville on Saturday.

For the second time in her career, Bella Vella came back from more than a year on the sidelines – after she failed to get in foal – most recently after being g retired and sold as a broodmare broodm for $1.9m. Having H made the investment, in Rosemont R Stud decided d to send her back b to Will Clarken ( pictured).

“It’s incredible,” he said. said “She’s got an unbelievable unbeli internal strength to want to compete.” Bella Vella has now won 11 of her 35 starts, collecting almost $970,000 in prizemoney.