Michael Bell More than a Motivator

“There's only one winner, its Motivator” rewind back to August 2004 trainer Michael Bell introduced a Montjeu colt in a 2-year-old Maiden Stakes race at Newmarket. Purchased for 75,000 gns at the 2003 October Yearling Sales for owners The Royal Ascot Racing Club the Epsom Derby was still a dream away but dreams come true and an emphatic 6-length win on debut was followed by another victory in the Group 1 Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster. Dreams had become a reality when 4th June 2005 Motivator lined up for the biggest test of his career in the richest race in Britain, the Epsom Derby. Johnny Murtagh rode the perfect race and tracked the leaders before quickening away to win by 5-lengths in a memorable win for all involved. Big Orange ended his career in Meydan 2018 after sustaining a leg injury with an official rating of 120 in what was an impressive career.

Michael Bell has trained some top horses over the years, Motivator of course who won the Derby and the Dante Stakes in the same year, Sariska won the Irish Oaks back in 2009, then we have Zanzibar and Revenue both group winners and who can forget Big Orange who had plenty of group success including the Group 1 Gold Cup Stakes in 2017. 

Talking of Big Orange brings me nicely to a couple of Michael Bell's 2-year-olds that I will be adding to my trackers this season. The first is AESTHETE who is a half brother to Big Orange. Owned by W.J and T.C.O. Greadly the Muhaarar/Miss Brown To You colt will have to be special to come close to Big Orange. I will be interested to see what distance he runs and one worth keeping an eye out for. Football agent and racehorse owner Kia Joorabchian, who races his horses under the Amo Racing Limited banner has had plenty of success with his 2-year-olds over the years. Flying Sparkle who was a 70,000 gns purchase in 2016 won the first timeout at Windsor in 2017, then went onto finish a gallant second in the Listed Redcar trophy. Maxi Boy was an expensive purchase for Amo Racing Limited at the 2018 yearling sales. The 380,000 purchase was clearly well-thought-of on debut when starting 11/4 at Yarmouth last season. The Oasis Dream colt took it all in his stride and won with a bit in hand. Maxi Boy then finished third in the Superlatives Group 2 Stakes at Newmarket. 

The next 2-year-old to go in the trackers is the Amo Racing Limited Frankel colt TONY MONTANA who was purchased at the tatts last October for a cool 500,000 gns. The grey colt's dam Tropical Paradise won the Group 3 Supreme Stakes and the Group 3 Oak Tree Stakes in 2010 and ended up with an official rating of 103 for trainer Peter Winkworth. Tropical Paradise offsprings have looked an average bunch so far but David Simcocks Fiji who won at Lingfield on debut in January looks a type to do well this season. 

Thanks for reading and good luck for the season ahead.