EF FEB 13 - A DIFFERENT DAY AT THE OFFICE

By Graham Potter | Tuesday, February 16, 2010

On some days, everything you touch turns to gold. You simply cannot do a thing wrong. On other occasions, it seems that the world is conspiring against you and very little goes your way.

Apprentice jockey Tim Bell’s last two visit’s to Brisbane pretty much served as examples of those two extreme outcomes which are underwritten by variables in a jockey’s life that he cannot control.

At Doomben two weeks ago, Bell rode four winners on the day that belonged to him. At Eagle Farm on Saturday the young rider, who recently turned seventeen, looked in line for another very good day when he partnered Rare Diamond, who he had also won for him at Doomben, to an untroubled victory in the opening race on the card ... but Bell’s day at the office became increasing more difficult after that.

In the second race Bell was left without a ride when Heaven’s Own was scratched from the event.

In the third race Bell was on another of the runners who had helped him to those four winning rides at Doomben and he was expected to again go close on Fantastic Blue.

Last time he rode the gelding quietly and weaved his way home in terrific fashion. This time he followed a similar early race pattern, but when Bell asked Fantastic Blue for his final effort in the straight Fantastic Blue proceeded to hang in and, as stated in the stewards report, ‘as a consequence of this proved difficult to ride out.’

The fourth race provided more frustration for the rider. This time he was aboard Pimpala Cobber whose run is best described by an extract from the stewards’ report for that race.

‘Apprentice T. Bell, rider of Pimpala Cobber, which was having its first start today from a spell, stated that he had been asked to ride the horse in a forward position if possible, but in the early stages other runners crossed him and he got further back than he would have liked.

‘He said in the straight when he was attempting to ride it out, the horse became unbalanced several times. As he was concerned with its action, he did not ride Pimpala Cobber out to the finish as he normally would.’

In race five it looked like things might have turned around. Bell looked a likely winner again as he drove Raincoat into the lead in the closing stages but he was shot down by the faster finishing Arizona Sunset, who got up to beat Raincoat by a head.

In race six Bell’s mount Rapid Magic finished unplaced and Bell was back in the stewards’ room after that race for a whip-use indiscretion. The stewards’ report reads, ‘Apprentice T. Bell, rider of Rapid Magic, was reprimanded for using his whip more than 5 times prior to the 100m.’

Bell’s luck got no better going into the seventh race. He was aboard Ollie Vollie which did well enough to earn third place, but again the ride was not an easy one.

Here the stewards’ report reads, ‘T. Bell, rider of Ollie Vollie, stated it has been established recently that the horse needs to be held up for a late sprint. He said he followed The Jackal in today's race but at about the 100m, when close to that horse's heels, was obliged to stop riding and straighten.’

Bell would have been forgiven at that point for hoping he had probably used up all of his back luck and thinking he would be able to close off the meeting with a winning ride on the strong favourite Kisani.

That hope was diminished long before he got to the start. In fact it was getting to the start that was the problem as Kisani repeatedly made an unequivocal statement that she was not in the mood to race and absolutely resented the clerk of the course tugging at her to try to make her comply.

After being forced to dismount in the parade ring, Bell climbed aboard Kisani again on the track where Kisani again made her feelings clear as she fought the clerk of the course, while at the same time trying to get rid of Bell.

The clerk of the course eventually had the lead pulled from his hand.

Bell then took control of his mount and took her past the grandstands and back down to the start without any further trouble, but the damage had been done. According to the stewards’ report, ‘apprentice T. Bell stated that Kisani jumped only fairly and as a consequence of the early speed in the race got well out of its ground.’ Kisani finished unplaced.

In a rider’s career there are more ordinary days then good days. That’s why you the savour the success and just get on with it when roadblocks are put in your way.

This wasn’t a train-smash for Bell. He still went home with a winner, but the events of the day did show a stark contrast to his afternoon at Doomben two weeks ago. It was just one of a host of different days a rider can have at the office.

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