News

Jockey Tim Bell hopes weekend Singapore trip is first of many on international stage

22nd Jul 2015

The Courier Mail - by Ben Dorries - Wednesday, 22 July 2015

Young Brisbane jockey Tim Bell hopes a riding trip to Singapore this weekend can be a pipe-opener to his dreams of making it on the international stage.

Former Melbourne jockey and now Singapore trainer Stephen Burridge has booked Bell to ride two-year-old Lim’s Showcase in the Group 3 Juvenile Championship at Kranji on Sunday.

The Singapore Turf Club has granted a one-day visiting jockey’s licence to Bell, who could have up to seven rides on the program.

Bell, 22, who won last season’s Brisbane senior riding premiership, has not ridden overseas and has only travelled internationally once before when he went on a European holiday as a teenager.

The exciting rider who grew up in the country NSW town of Narrabri, has always been determined to conquer the riding world.

“I’ve always been a goalsetter and making it on the international stage has been an ambition of mine,’’ Bell said.

“This is probably going to be a small step in doing that.

“It will look great on my resume and as long as I ride everything well, you never know what opportunities might come up.’’

Bell will have a full book of eight rides at Saturday’s metropolitan meeting on the Sunshine Coast before jetting out of Brisbane at 11.30pm. He will arrive in Singapore early on Sunday morning.

“I will have plenty of time to walk the track and do a bit of form,’’ Bell said.

“I have never ridden for Stephen Burridge before but I was delighted to receive the call.

“Hugh Bowman rode Lim’s Showcase at his most recent start but he is not going back over there this time.

“The horse looks to have a lot of improvement in him.’’

Bell is planning to have a two-week holiday soon after returning from Singapore, after not having had any time out of the saddle since he was a teenager.