Bella Paola

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
Sire	Ticino
Grandsire	Athanasius
Dam	Rhea II
Damsire	Gundomar
Sex	Mare
Foaled	1955
Country	France
Colour	Brown
Breeder	François Dupré
Owner	François Dupré
Trainer	François Mathet
Record	10: 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

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

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

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

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

• The Complete Encyclopedia of Horse Racing - written by Bill Mooney and George Ennor
• Bella Paola's pedigree and racing stats