MY CALL - BELL HAS HIS DEFINING MOMENT

By David Fowler | Tuesday, August 16, 2011

David Fowler is the principal thoroughbred caller for Radio TAB, taking the position upon Wayne Wilson's retirement last August. David, who is a keen form student and punter, has enjoyed a lifetime involvement in the racing media. His personal blog, ‘My Call’, appears exclusively on HRO.

Everyone has a defining moment somewhere in life.

It might be a big event or it might not be that big, but it's something that shapes your destiny for the short or long term.

Tim Bell had his defining moment at Eagle Farm on Saturday with his riding treble. He has come of age for a variety of reasons.

I remember interviewing him when he first started riding … and riding winners … in Brisbane.

First impressions were that he looked 12 but he could ride and handled himself with aplomb in the speaking department.

Of course he wasn't 12 and he's now 18 and has accepted a key position in riding for the Patinacks's Queensland operation.

Nathan Tinkler doesn't like losing so it was never going to be an easy ride for Tim, but he accepted the offer and had a fairly low key start to the new chapter in his life.

But Saturday was a turning point.

A Saturday treble is impressive enough for an 18 year-old apprentice but they were all labelled Patinack. He'd done extra well by his boss!

And two of them, Miss Cutie and Shamardashing, were short priced favorites and there's always an extra responsibility there, but the punters went home happy and will be looking at what Tim Bell rides next Saturday.

And his armoury of riding talents was clearly on display in his trio of wins.

It was skill to negotiate a path on Just Been Lucky, daring to wait and then seize a narrow gap on Miss Cutie and poise on Shamardashing to place him perfectly and then bide his time before hitting the go button.

I'm part of the BRC medal voting team each weekend which is based on a 3, 2,1 points system for the merit in the rides of the eight winners. I would dearly have loved to award him 3, 2 and 1 but, alas, the rules don't permit.

The Patinack operation is not a benevolent society. It requires results to pay for Tinker's huge outlay. Bell clearly demonstrated on Saturday he will play his part well in the exercise.

Yes, a defining moment.

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Racing lost two great men last week with the passing of Doug Bougoure and Con "Chubby" Holloway.

Both had been in poor health for some time. Sometimes, a passing can be a relief for all concerned.

I grew up with Doug's son Danny as we went to the same school and got to know Danny's dad as just a damn good bloke.

He deserved a Strawberry Road in his career.

Chubby might have presented a gruff exterior on occasions, but he was super at his trade of bookmaking and later form analysis and price assessing.

I can personally vouch that he was one of the most generous men I have met.

Sadly racing characters don't develop anymore because the atmosphere of the track doesn't allow it.

We have to be content with what we've got left.

We are now two less after last week.

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How good is Simmering?

Sure, he's beating second-raters but I love a good margin and it's not often they win by six on a Saturday. He did.

Our post race jockey and trainer interviews at Eagle Farm or Doomben always reveal a snippet or two of information, but I was simply rapt in how Jimmy Byrne spoke so glowingly of Simmering.

And don't forget it was only his tenth race start!

Let's not get carried away yet, but let's hope he can keep taking the next step. It's all good for Queensland racing.

Until next week.

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