Timely reminder of top rider and mate
IT’S been six years since Tim Bell won the Goldmarket and now a horse named after the late jockey will return to the track on the same day the sprint is held again.
Bell died in late 2015 at the age of 22 after falling from a 12th floor apartment in Singapore during a threemonth contract overseas.
The much-loved hoop was close friends with Rebecca Hammersley, the majority owner of Timely Bel who will run in the Aquis QTIS 2YO Jewel at the Gold Coast today for her father Bruce Hill.
Hammersley, 36, said the filly’s name was inspired by the memory of Bell who she considered to be family.
“He was one of my best mates,” Hammersley said of a man who lived on the Coast before his Singapore stint.
“It’s very special to name the horse after him. He was like a little brother to me and I am still close to his family.”
Hammersley said close friends of Bell would see the funny side in naming a filly after the male jockey.
“Anyone that knows him will see the funny side of it,” said Hammersley, who has a 29 per cent stake in the filly.
“He was a joker and he was very vain. He would take longer to get ready than most of the girls.”
Hill bought Timely Bel, a daughter of Bel Esprit, for $15,000 at last year’s Magic Millions March Yearling Sales. The amount was about half the reserve price the breeder had initially placed on the filly at the sale.
Timely Bel has already amassed $15,500 in prizemoney and despite bookmakers rating her a $67 chance, Hill hasn’t written her off in the $500,000 race.
Hill said the two-year-old had improved in each of her three runs, including two seconds and a fourth at her last start at the Gold Coast.
“Her runs have been good and she has got better each time she has gone around,” Hill said.
“She has always shown a little bit. The field is strong but I think she will be competitive.
“She has drawn a good alley (three) which is a big plus and the last few weeks she has done everything we have asked of her. The 1200m will suit her better after only going to 900m in her previous starts.
“She has early speed but it’s not brilliant.”
First prizemoney today is $300,000, something that would “mean a lot” to Hill’s bank balance.
“There are a good bunch of people in her, ordinary, everyday people who have been clients for a long time,” he said. “It would be good to get a result for them.”
The Kelly Schweidatrained The Odyssey is the $2.80 favourite for the race.