Mitchell Bell came to the Kembla Grange in the box seat to win the jockeys premiership and left the track every bit a deserving champion for the 2015-16 campaign.
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The classy hoop put on a clinic at Saturday’s final meeting of the season with four winners to reclaim the title he won two seasons ago.
Bell piloted Royal Dynasty (race one), First Approval (race two), Star Appearance (race four) and Imanui (race six) to victory.
It moved him to a total of 120 points for the season – 19 clear of both Chad Lever and Jeff Penza. The haul also had Bell within touching distance of leveling his career best of five winners achieved at Newcastle close to a decade ago when he rode Eva Luna in penultimate event.
The filly could only muster for second, however it did nothing to dampen Bell’s stellar day.
“On paper it looked good, but most of the time when you look on paper that you have a good book they don’t always pan out that way. It has been a good day – four winners is something you want to finish on," Bell said.
“I don’t know what the tally is now but I think I am about 95 for the season. I was trying to crack the 100 this year but a couple of suspensions didn’t help me. It’s been a good year.”
Bell opened the card with a running double. He took out the first on Royal Dynasty for Anthony Cummings before linking up with Peter and Paul Snowden to pilot First Approval.
A $1.75 TAB fixed odds favourite, First Approval burst out of the pack to win the Rose Todner 2YO Maiden Plate (1300m). The victory was the promising colt’s first at his second start and co-trainer Paul Snowden felt his best would come later in his three-year-old campaign.
He thought the juvenile by Northern Meteor may be able to measure up in stronger races next preparation. Bell agreed.
“You only have to look at him to realise he is going to get a bit further,” Bell said.
“As soon as you get up on his back and go the gates you can feel that.
“He is a nice mover and he is going to improve to bigger things I think. The way he did it today, he did everything right, and attacked the line nice. He should go onwards and upwards.”
Bell’s fourth came for trainer Gerald Ryan in race four. He rode Star Appearance to victory before rounding out the card on Ron Quinton trained Imanui.
Imanui was another which Bell held in high-regard following the lightly-raced three-year-old’s triumph in the Frews Gully Class 1 Handicap (1200m).
Bell came from off the speed, but had no trouble rounding up his rivals to march to a 1-¾ length win over Clarry Conners trained Captured.
Let’s Dream Big was third.
“I have got a nice opinion of his and I think Ronny [Quinton] does as well,” Bell said.
“He hasn’t said to much to me, but I think quietly he does.
“Today he was first up over 1200m, when he is more going to be more suited over the mile.
“It was impressive.”