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Desert Diary: Bell family chiming together at Meydan

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Bells-360

Oli Bell (left) Michael Bell (centre) and Rupert Bell (right)

  PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)  

 By Graham Dench in Dubai 12:48AM 23 MAR 2016 

THE Dubai World Cup has provided the Bell family with a first opportunity to enjoy an international event together.

Trainer Michael Bell, who is here with Dubai Gold Cup hope Big Orange, is an old hand at the World Cup thanks to the utterly splendid but sadly ill-fated Wigmore Hall, while his brother Rupert has been doing the press conferences and interviews for around 15 years.

However, World Cup night will be a first working assignment for Rupert’s son Oli, who is hosting the feed that will go home to Racing UK subscribers.

Rupert Bell, who in his down time has regaled colleagues with a succession of true stories about a life that has been infinitely more colourful – and hilarious – than many might imagine, found it all quite moving and said: “It feels slightly surreal, but really quite special.”

Oli Bell, however, has little concept of his father’s fame and only hears of his escapades second hand. Like most sons, he finds dad plain embarrassing.

Richard Fahey

Richard Fahey: will be meeting an old friend

  PICTURE: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)  

Remember me?

Richard Fahey is looking forward to reintroducing himself to Art Sherman at Meydan.

In a previous life, Fahey rode work for Sherman, as he explained after watching Dubai Turf hope Gabrial stretch his legs.

He recalled: “It was 27 years ago and I was finished on the Flat and about to turn conditional for Jimmy Fitzgerald.

“I went out to California for three weeks and ended up staying three months. We were at Bay Meadows, and Art had a couple of Stakes horses at that time. His son Alan was a jockey in those days too.

“I was there as an illegal, and Art was the only trainer whose cheques they would cash at the track.”

No return to England

California Chrome will have a familiar corner team when he bids to go one better in Saturday’s Group 1 Dubai World Cup, not least his former work-rider Robbie Mills, who partnered him during his spell in Newmarket last summer.

Mills has stayed around during the Dubai Carnival as a sort of professional “Chromie” to monitor his former mount’s progress after travelling a horse out to the Emirates for Rae Guest.

Mills will not be riding the chestnut out from Rae Guest’s yard this year however as his trainer Art Sherman told  the diary: “California Chrome won’t be going back to England this year as we plan to take him where he likes it best, California.

“We have the Pacific Classic at Del Mar in mind for him but the one we really want is the Breeders’ Cup Classic which this year is at Santa Anita. Let’s just say he’s a surfer!”

Clarke the new point of contact

Among the latest changes at Godolphin is the appointment of Aussie James Clarke in a new position as press liaison for Sheikh Mohammed’s global organisation.

Clarke’s role is as a one-stop shop for media enquiries something Godolphin have not had since Simon Crisford left his position as racing manager over two years ago.

Having previously worked for Dubai-based strategic advice company Falcon, Clarke has been busy hosting a press trip to the Dubai World Cup this week.

He said: “I first started out with the Darley Flying Start scheme before joining Falcon and plan to move to Newmarket in the coming weeks to start properly.”

Clarke’s appointment is expected to give Godolphin chief executive John Ferguson more time to spend with horses. Some of his former jumping hopes are set to return to the Flat.  

Terry spargo

Terry Spargo: had some technical problems at World Cup draw

  PICTURE: Virendra Saklani  

Failure to launch

An elaborate process by which sponsors launched the draw process for all of the Grade 1s bar the Dubai World Cup itself got off to a sticky start.

Terry Spargo, whose voice will be familiar to many as Meydan’s commentator, invited the sponsors to press a huge red button on a giant touch screen in order to initiate the process, but wherever it was touched, and however hard it was pressed, it would not turn green.

After four or five attempts the pair turned their backs on the screen and it then launched immediately of its own accord.

 

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