Fanatic Primed For Townsville Cup Tilt

OWNER Steve Williams has left his chances of winning another Townsville Cup in the safe hands of "The Magic Man" trainer Harold Hovi.

STEVE Williams says he has left his chances of winning another Townsville Cup in the safe hands of “The Magic Man”.

Williams, who has owned such greats as Glen Gallon, Jury, and previous Townsville Cup winner Velocity Regina, has highly promising youngster Fanatic (Keybow-Velocity Storm) engaged in a heat of the Cup (498m) on Friday night.

Fantatic comes off five straight wins for trainer Harold Hovi who has earned the racetrack nickname in recent times of “The Magic Man” after a series of doubles and trebles.

While Fanatic takes on classy Dam Slippery and recent Townsville FFA winner and last year's Cup finalist Soft Sand, now in the Brad Belford kennel, he comes into the race off some fast times over the Cup distance.

“We bred him out of Velocity Storm who was a very handy bitch for us in NSW,” said Steve Williams.

“But, I have to admit, he has really developed into a better dog than we thought.”

Williams has had dogs trained by Harold Hovi for some years.

“Tony Brett's mother Jenny approached me some years ago on behalf of Harold who was looking to buy a pup or two,” said Steve.

“Not long after that I sent him a couple of dogs to train and he has been training for us ever since.”

Fantaic has now started 22 times for 12 wins and he is a litter brother to the very classy Defy (10 wins, $18,000) a multiple feature race finalist, including the Group 2 Qld Derby.

The Cup series of four heats on Friday night has drawn some very classy gallopers including last year's winner, veteran Big Bad Bob from the George Clegg kennel, coming back to defend his crown.

Big Bad Bob will be lining up for start 110 and he is the winner of 36 races and $152,000 in stakes.

Tony Brett has Ipswich 431m track record holder and Rockhampton Cup winner Regal Recall in a heat.

Regular Townsville visitor Tom Tzouvelis has kennel stars Brandi Alexander and Maurice Minor in heats as well.

It promises to be a terrific program of racing.

Check out all the fields and form for Friday night's Townsville Cup program here

 

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