Our Industry – Ryan Bell
Harrison Bell showing his dad how its done on the tie up rail. Photo- Tiffany Sharpe/Bells Pacing Stable
Each week we will explore someone from within the WA harness racing industry, this week, we take a look at successful driver and trainer, Ryan Bell.
With 14 horses currently in work, Baskerville based trainer Ryan Bell has his hands full, but is confident that he has a few handy types in his care.
“Swingband, Whataretheodds and Speedwagon are promising. I’m really looking forward to their three-year-old campaigns. I really think they’ll measure up,”
“The rest of them are handy country performers like Hillview Bondi, Tenacious George, I think they will do an honest job for us.” Bell said.
It’s a family affair at Bells Pacing Stable, with his son almost four-year-old son Harrison being very active in their stables, as well as his fiancé Tiffany Sharpe assisting with the day-to-day training of their team.
“I hope he (Harrison) is better than me.” Bell joked.
Obtaining his trainers licence in October 2007, Ryan has trained 175 winners in his career, with Paynin NZ notching up his first win as a trainer on the 11th of December 2007 at Bunbury.
Bell has always had a special touch with the pacers, with the astute horseman currently sitting on 496 career wins in the sulky, just four wins away from the elusive 500 as a reinsman.
With over two decades of experience in the industry, Bell drove his first winner on the 29th of October in 2002 behind Finn Mac Cumhail NZ for trainer Andrew De Campo at a midweek meeting at Gloucester Park.
In 2009, he piloted the Greg Harper trained Power Of Tara NZ to victory in the 2009 Group 1 Fremantle Cup, undoubtedly Bell’s biggest win as driver, however, just two years earlier in 2007, he was on board the 2007 Sales Classic winner Schinzig Buller trained by his dad Peter Bell; his first city win as a trainer.
“Rich (Richard Polak) and I owned him. We bought him blind drunk at the sales for $6000.” He said.
In 2009, he drove Centrefold Angel to victory in the 2YO Diamond Classic for trainer Deb Sweet. Sadly, yesterday Deb’s husband and great horseman himself Bob Sweet, passed away at age 90.
“Bob was a great mentor to me in the early days and an inspirational human being.”
“That win was probably the most special to me as I declared her at 100/1. It was Hayley Moore’s birthday ‘do’ in one of the private functions upstairs and I said to most of the guests to have an each way bet as I thought she would run third at worst.” He said.
Ryan Bell on board superstar Shockwave. Photo- Hamilton Content Creator
With the shock news of Shockwave going amiss last month, it was a massive blow for the 35-year-old who had planned to take the elite stallion over east to campaign in the major races on the east coast.
“Shockwave is good, he is in rehab at our place now. He’s had PRP (Platelet-rich Plasma) done on his tendon and will start walking this week and slowly step up to walking and water walking,”
PRP therapy involves injecting the horse with its own concentrated platelets to speed up the healing of tendon injuries.
“He will be given the time and treatment he needs to heal, so we don’t expect him back at the races until late next year,”
“It’s only been two weeks and he’s doing that well that he looks ready for the show ring already.” Bell said.
Bell has three horses lined up on Friday night at Bunbury, with Ryan piloting two of his runners, he has also picked up a drive in the first, Allwood Wizard for Bob Mellsop.
Yo Te Amo Haitch: Race 4, barrier 10 – Driven by Ryan Bell
“Yo Te Amo Haitch just can’t seem to get a barrier to find the front because her only eligible races are all done on PBD/L. If she doesn’t show her old zest on Friday, she will either move over to Sydney and see how she goes there, or we will breed from her.”
Hillview Bondi: Race 5, barrier 6 – Driven by Joseph Suvaljko
“Hillview Bondi is as honest as the day is long but has drawn a bit awkwardly, but he might have the class to overcome it in what looks to be an even field.”
Tenacious George: Race 7, Barrier 4 – Driven By Ryan Bell
Tenacious George’s standing start manners I’m unsure of, it he gets away safe and wants to be there, I think he will win, but he is quirky, and I’m still getting to know him and sort out a few feet issues. If we click and sort his issues, he will be a good earner in the future, I feel.”
Ashleigh Paikos