Geelong is the obvious place to debut a colt part-owned by AFL great Billy Brownless.
Commentator Sandy Roberts famously declared Brownless to be “king of Geelong” after the forward won a final for the Cats against Footscray in 1994.
Brownless professes his love for Geelong at every opportunity in the footy media but he might love the place even more if Fast Witness scores on debut on the track on Friday.
Co-trainer David Eustace is from England so didn’t see Brownless’s footy exploits but said the media performer has been an enthusiastic owner.
“The significance is naturally fairly lost on me but I do know who Billy is and what he’s done,” Eustace, who trains Star Witness in partnership with Ciaron Maher, said.
“I’ve spoken to him on the phone and he’s most certainly a character.”
Fast Witness has provided Brownless and his fellow owners with reason to be excited about the youngster’s prospects.
The son of Blue Diamond Stakes winner Star Witness has taken time to develop but won a trial in heavy ground at Cranbourne on July 4.
“He’s just been quite a big horse and home-bred as well,” Eustace said.
“We’ve taken our time with him because his action wasn’t there last prep.
“He wasn’t quite moving well enough so we elected to give him a little bit of a break and he’s done well for it.
“He’s definitely a nice horse and has definitely taken a good step forward this time in.”
TAB has Fast Witness as a $4 second favourite to win Friday’s Allianz Insurance 2YO Maiden at Geelong.
While Fast Witness is set to debut over 1100m on Friday, Eustace said the rising three-year-old could tackle longer races in time.
“I don’t think he is just an out-and-out speedster,” Eustace said.
“I definitely think he’ll get six furlongs (1200m) and he might get seven (1400m) as well.”
Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Jye McNeil will ride Fast Witness if the colt runs at Geelong.
Originally published as Trial winner part-owned by AFL great Billy Brownless to debut at Geelong on Friday
