“Goosebumps” Bell Leads In Five Winner Haul

TRAINER Andrew Bell says he drove home with goosebumps after training a five winner haul at Richmond on Sunday night.

"It was a very special night … one I won't forget anytime soon," said Bell who heads up the rapidly growing Cedar Lodge.

"It's not something you go out and think might happen but when it does it gives you goosebumps. I've had four winners before a couple of times but never five – just a very special night."

In 2020, Bell landed his third consecutive Richmond Trainers' Premiership title with 107 winners and 278 placings from 849 runners for stakes of $271,000.

It was the Werombi conditioner's best year yet with the collar and lead and with the way in which the New Year has begun, Bell admits to eyeing even loftier heights in 2021.

"I'm stoked with the way we are going overall," Bell added.

"We've prided ourselves on getting the most out of every dog we get and the results of that have seen us start getting better quality dogs.

"A few years back we were taking every dog we were offered and doing the best we could but now we're in a position where we can be that bit more selective. It's a good position to be in."

Bell's five winners on Sunday came via Foxy Moet (22.99), Johanna Jewel (23.34), Fence Lady (22.76), Joshua Keeping (22.79) and Warren Wahoo (22.93).

"Making the night even more special was the fact a lot of our owners were there to enjoy it with us," Bell said.

"Barry Weatherby, the owner of Johanna Jewel, was there for the first time and before the race I gave him a photo of her winning her first race a few weeks back.

"I told him she couldn't win last night but luckily he didn't listen to me and still backed her at 10/1. Seeing the joy and excitement on his face after she won made the night for me.

"At the end of the day that's what you do this for."

Well on his way to a fourth Richmond Trainers' Premiership with 10 wins already in 2021, Bell is full of praise for the Sunday ‘finish-on' meetings which continue to receive bumper nominations.

"We've had dogs given to us that people thought wouldn't win a race and the finish-on has turned them around," Bell said.

"And it's not so much the finish-on for mine. It's the confidence they get from packing onto the lure with the other dogs consistently. It builds confidence but not straight away – you need to keep at it.

"There's a lot of non-chasers out there and we've found it a godsend. But it's not for every dog, we've got a few mental cases that I don't race on a Sunday with."

On Wednesday Bell returns to Richmond with a team of chasers including impressive debut maiden winner It's A Moment.

"He's drawn the five which isn't great but he's a dog with plenty of promise," Bell said.

"I was going to take him straight to Wenty but decided on the easier option. But he's a city dog in the future for sure."