Thomson backs Billy Bottaluchi to take the Townsville Cup

By Isaac Murphy

Southern dogs have had a stranglehold on the Group 3 Townsville Cup in recent years but local trainer Graham Thomson believes 2020 is the year the locals fight back.

Thomson has plenty of reasons to think his chaser Billy Bottaluchi - the fastest heat winner - and three more Townsville track specialists have what it takes to take on the might of the Brisbane dogs in this Friday’s final.

Billy was brilliant in his heat, hunting up from box one to strike the front mid-race before putting a gap on the recently crowned Queensland Sprint Champion in the run home.

“I was really pleased to see him not be bullied by any of the Brisbane dogs and run his own race, he got away average but as soon as he hit that bottom corner he just explodes away and to see him put up a margin on Stinger Noir was a good sign,” Thomson said.

“I was that nervous before and throughout the race, even when I got to him after the race I was all over the place.

“I love the dog and to win a Townsville Cup heat with him and have a real shot at the final was a pretty special moment.”

On paper, Billy’s form up until last Friday’s heat only looked average, but Thomson has had the dog his entire 45-start career at Townsville and knew he was building for the big race.

“He ran a massive race to finish into third a few starts back from box eight where he had no right to run the race he did, when we were walking off the track I said to the bloke who was catching for me we’ll win the Townsville Cup with this dog,” Thomson said.

“When he got box one in the heat, I said ‘you beauty, he should be able to get a clean enough run from there’ and he did, but I’m probably even more pleased with box four in the final.

“I’ve raced at Townsville my whole life and boxes three and four from the 498 metre start give you the chance to run dead straight; he won’t have to deviate at all, just jump with them and shoulder his way and be there on that bottom turn.”

As a lifelong Townsville trainer, Thomson was rapt with the local representation, and if Billy doesn’t cross the line first he’ll be hoping it’s another close to home.

“It’s great to see the Townsville representation in the final; you’ve got Gascoigne, Plyometric, Tipsy Four and Billy who can all give these southern dogs a bit of a run for their money,” he said.

“For years and years, we’ve had south-east Queensland trainers coming up with their dogs.

“A while back it was a very even mix, however the imports started to dominate the last few years but we’ve really fought back this year - it’s a great rivalry.

“I’ve won the Cairns Cup before which was my biggest thrill, but have never quite cracked a Townsville Cup.

“I’ve run in the placings on multiple occasions, I can’t tell you how much it would mean to win it.

“We got him back to the 498 metres and he went through a purple patch where he won a few on end and I thought we might be peaking a bit early, but after a couple of average runs he’s just bursting to go at the right time.”

Thomson has done a remarkable job with the dog, the give away having earnt him over $20,000 in prize money at two-and-a-half years old.

“The dog was actually a give away from Dave Burnett down in Melbourne, I rang him about another dog he had for sale out of his kennels and that dog was gone and he said ‘I’ve got a dog and a bitch that you can have’,” Thomson said.

“I said how old and he said seventeen months, I asked what breed and he said Magic Sprite who I’ve had a great association with, so I ended up taking the dog and leaving the bitch because I prefer dogs in the kennel.

“On what he’s done I probably should have taken the bitch as well, but I asked if he had named named him, and he said Billy Bottaluchi and I fell in love with him even more.”

The distinct name has caught the eye of punters and industry types alike, and Thomson loves the fact that he stands out in the crowd.

“I love the name, I know there are plenty of people up here who follow him because of the uniqueness, even the stewards say ‘here comes the Mafia dog’ when he comes in,” Thomson laughed.

“He’s always been a real character in the kennels, a happy go lucky kind of fellow, so hopefully he’ll stay that way.”

Thomson is adamant the time is now for Billy to strike and make the most out of his prime, and the trainer is not afraid to declare him the dog to beat come Friday.

“All dogs have a purple patch in their careers and he’s there at the moment, it’s up to me to keep him there for as long as possible,” he said.

“I’ve got all the confidence in the world in him if he has his neck out in front early they won’t be catching him, it might sound like I’m overstepping the mark but I know the dog that well and genuinely think he can win come Friday.”

Races don’t come any bigger than the Townsville Cup for Thomson, and after going close before, seeing Billy hit the frame first would be indescribable.

“I’m born and bred in Townsville; I’ve raced here and Cairns all my life and obviously am solely based out of Townsville now since Cairns shut its doors,” Thomson said.

“I would have loved to have seen Billy get a chance at the Cairns track as he would have loved it, but we’re racing twice a week in Townsville now and have a $25,000 Group 3 that’s attracted all the best dogs in Queensland - I’m proud to say we’re travelling pretty well up here.”