Mick Bell is chasing back-to-back wins with Jungle Edge
The success of Jungle Edge is providing Cranbourne trainer Mick Bell a little joy ahead of a looming tough period.
With Christmas approaching Bell enters the festive season with a tinge of sadness.
Earlier this year Bell’s wife Bev lost her battle with breast cancer just before Jungle Edge claimed his first stakes race win in Sydney.
Bell is taking advantage of Victoria’s unseasonal wet in chasing back-to-back wins with Jungle Edge in Saturday’s Stabil-Lime Group Handicap at Pakenham.
It’s comes a week after Jungle Edge ploughed through the heavy conditions at Sandown.
“It’s a gift to get a horse like this,” Bell said.
“A horse that is durable and having a real career, it’s a great thing so we’re getting a little bit of joy now before heading into what is going to be a pretty tough time.”
Bell said Jungle Edge had ticked nearly all the boxes to run on Saturday.
He’s drawn barrier one for Georgina Cartwright who landed her first metropolitan win aboard the gelding last week.
“I’m just waiting on the result of a blood test but I can’t imagine that it would be too bad as he’s feeling so good,” Bell said.
“The track has gone from a heavy to a slow, but there’s rain forecast, and my guess is we’ll get enough rain.
“And the new Pakenham track is usually on the softer side.”
Cartwright’s 3kg claim brings Jungle Edge in with 60.5kg and while Bell admits weight can anchor horses he doesn’t see it being a problem on Saturday.
“When he ran in the Sale Cup he had to give six kilos to those that finished in front of him,” Bell said.
“It’s different giving a bit of weight to horses over 1200 metres on a heavy track.”
Jungle Edge has had a quiet week since his Sandown victory, heading to the Cranbourne training centre for a swim on Tuesday and again on Wednesday following a bit of a trot and canter.
“We just rode him around and make sure he feels alright,” Bell said.
“We had a physio go over him and that’s when we did a resting blood test to make sure everything’s fine.
“But he seems fine to me.”
