Ex-football great enjoying a wave of harness racing success

Billy Brownless is no stranger to a bit of fun and he’s having a whole heap of it in harness racing with a talented trotter by the name of Rules Dont Apply.

The Geelong Football Club great and high-profile media personality has been a long-time owner with trainer Anthony Crossland and races the smart five-year-old, among others, with the Eppalock horseman.

“I’ve had about 10 horses with Crossa (Crossland) over the years and we are down to one, but it’s a good one,” Brownless said.

“I just like the industry and it’s a bit of fun. You get together with some mates and things like that.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s a trotter or a galloper – if you’re at the track when your horse wins, it’s a great feeling. It’s unbelievable.”

Brownless wasn’t trackside when Rules Dont Apply powered to a dominant win in the Group 1 Vicbred Super Series 4YO Trotting Entires and Geldings Final at Melton on December 31, but celebrated accordingly.

“I was at the pub, I had a few mates there and we backed him,” Brownless said.

“I thought he took off a bit early, but Crossa, I think, knew what he was doing and finally saluted. That was a great thrill.”

Rules Dont Apply is one of 20 squaregaiters to gain a place in Friday night’s What The Hill Great Southern Star heats and has drawn perfectly to progress to the Group 1 $300,000 final later on the card. He has barrier eight, the inside of the back row, and is positioned directly behind reigning two-time winner Tornado Valley, who has gate one. Click here to view fields.

Crossland works part time for Romsey trainer Chris Svanosio while running a small team himself, but spelled the other horses in the stable to focus all his attention on Rules Dont Apply’s Vicbred campaign.

And with that box successfully ticked, the 44-year-old is hoping the run of fortune can continue with victory in Australia’s biggest trotting feature.

“I suppose its hard to put into words what it would mean, but you would cherish it if it were to happen,” Crossland said.

“(But) the harness Gods have a fair way of punishing you if you get too ahead of yourself.

“He’s an exceptional horse with exceptional speed and can stay. Trotters with that kind of speed and that can stay, they don’t come around too often.”

By Tim O’Connor for HRV