Bell to ring in Tasmania

Corey Bell will return to the sulky and in a new state on Friday in Launceston, with the former Victorian and New South Wales-based harness racing driver taking up an opportunity with the Ben Yole stable.

Bell, 31, has driven over 200 winners but hasn’t driven in a race since August 2020 while undertaking a brick laying apprenticeship. After several attempts by Yole, Bell has elected to move to the island state.

“Ben has wanted me to come over for a few years, but I went to Kevin Pizzuto and a few other trainers.

“I have been out of the game for a few years, and I thought it was the right time as a driver to come back. Tasmania looks like it will suit me,” explained Bell ahead of Friday’s return.

Over half of Bell’s winners came in the 2014/15 season when based in the Riverina, where he drove 103 winners at a season strike rate of 21%.

“I have had a lot of good opportunities which I have tried to make the most of what I have got.

“I have won a few races at Menangle and have had the opportunity to drive in a Group 1,” Bell said.

Bell has only been in the state for one week and had six drives at the Hobart trials on Monday, where he drove six-second placings.

The driver rates Vinny Chase (Art Major) as his best chance across the eight-race Launceston card, where the 11-year-old gelding will start outside of the second row in the 2200m standing start event.

“I like him in the stand if he steps, and I like Going Great Guns at Hobart (on Sunday). He seems a nice horse,” Bell said when asked about his best chances to register his first Tasmanian win.

Friday’s eight-race Launceston card commences at 17:36 and can be seen on Sky Racing 2 and TasracingTV.

For complete race fields, click here.

by Duncan Dornauf, for Tasracing