TIM Bell is hoping to revive a few old Cup successes with Ruth Cooper’s Blinkin Easy when he climbs aboard the Moonbi gelding in today’s $150,000 Listed Maclean Bowling Club Grafton Cup (2350m).
Yesterday the 19-year-old apprentice, who hails from Narrabri but started his riding career in Tamworth with Sue Grills, rode River Lad to a third to Howmuchdoyouloveme in the $150,000 WHK Ramornie Handicap (1200m).
Today he reacquaints himself with Ruth Cooper’s seven-year-old gelding in the Grafton Cup.
Last week the Errol French-owned son of Easy Rocking won the Grafton Cup Prelude but today is a huge step up for Blinkin Easy, Bell said.
In saying that he also added that
the Grafton Cup field had fallen away
dramatically.
“It’s a disgraceful field for the Cup really,” Bell said yesterday.
“Tim Martin was right the other day when he said the Grafton Cup deserved to be given metro status to keep it going as a Listed Race.
Blinkin Easy is an old favourite of mine though. I’ve won three or four races on him including some of those country cups, Walcha and Glen Innes. But this is a big step up.”
The gelding has never won over 2350m but coming off a good win last Thursday’s 2106m Prelude at Grafton when wide.
He can smash through the $200,000 prizemoney barrier in style too.
It would also be a great way for the teenager to farewell his apprentice days.
This week will be his last official days as an apprentice, having signed off on his papers to become a fully-fledged senior jockey.
Before yesterday he had ridden some 320 winners including 11 Listed, two Group 3 and a Group 2 winner.
“It’s great to be coming out of my apprenticeship this week. It would be nice to win a good race like the Grafton Cup.”
While catching up with Ruth Cooper and Blinkin Easy he was also able to ride track work for his former master, Sue Grills at Grafton this week.
That was a nice touch for Tim who regards Grills as the major influence on his career.