Apprentice Tim Bell has accepted a lucrative offer to be the Queensland stable rider for Nathan Tinkler's powerful Patinack Farm stable.Bell, 18, recently transferred his indentures from his long-time boss Sue Grills at Tamworth to Eagle Farm trainer Kelly Schweida but will now switch to Patinack Farm's head trainer John Thompson.Bell was approached by multi-millionaire Tinker several weeks ago but was reluctant to rush into any decision on his riding future until now."It was a tough decision bu

Apprentice Tim Bell has accepted a lucrative offer to be the Queensland stable rider for Nathan Tinkler's powerful Patinack Farm stable.

Bell, 18, recently transferred his indentures from his long-time boss Sue Grills at Tamworth to Eagle Farm trainer Kelly Schweida but will now switch to Patinack Farm's head trainer John Thompson.

Bell was approached by multi-millionaire Tinker several weeks ago but was reluctant to rush into any decision on his riding future until now.

"It was a tough decision but I've decided to accept the position as their stable rider (in Queensland)," Bell said.

"I had a number of meetings with Mr Tinkler and the stable is in great order with the number of horses coming through.

"It's an opportunity of a lifetime for a young person like myself.

"There's a lot of potential in the stable and hopefully it can open up a big career and opportunity for myself."

Thompson currently has 45 horses in work at Wadham Park at Canungra in the Gold Coast hinterland which will soon be boosted by another 60 yearlings getting ready for the start of the new racing season in August.

"There's about 45 horses in work here now and another 60 yearlings are set to come in," Thompson said.

"In Sydney and Melbourne there's another 150 yearlings about to start off."

Thompson said he was delighted to have Bell join the Queensland stable.

"The biggest thing that impressed me most about Tim is that he's so level-headed and his riding talent speaks for itself," Thompson said.

"Tim will be our Queensland rider but he can still do outside riding for other trainers and he'll be allowed to ride work in Brisbane and the Gold Coast if he wants.

"We won't be tying him down and he'll get the bulk of our rides in Queensland and we'll use him whenever he's required in the south."

Bell rode four horses in work at Wadham Park on Tuesday but knows the workload will increase substantially once he takes up his appointment.

Bell has only been riding for three years and has been reluctant to accept approaches from other trainers to ride fulltime in Sydney.

"I've had to weigh up a lot of things but being so young and being tied to a stable with a great team like Patinack was an offer too good to refuse," he said.

"Sydney probably isn't right for me at the moment as it's so cutthroat and Brisbane will probably be my base.

"I took a lot of advice before accepting this role and you only get one chance at it."