Footy Star Bailey Fritsch’s $1m nerves for Brutal Bowler in BRC Sires’ Produce

Premiership star Bailey Fritsch sees racing as a potential career option after footy and takes his biggest step in horse ownership at Eagle Farm on Saturday with a Kris Lees-trained fancied in the $1m feature.

Melbourne Demons star Bayley Fritsch has iced games of footy off his own boot, but the premiership hero quips it is nothing like the nerves he will have before Brutal Bowler lines up in the Group 2 BRC Sires’ Produce (1400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Fritsch is a part-owner in the Kris Lees-trained colt, who has been heavily backed in the $1m feature and says he has an interest in the racing industry as a potential post-football career.

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Purchased by prominent bloodstock agent Justin Bahen, Brutal Bowler is the latest installment of ‘Bowler’ horses part-owned by an eclectic group of mates linked to the Port Melbourne Bowling Club.

“To be honest I was lucky to get into it,” Fritsch said.

Brutal Bowler is an explosive last start winner. Picture: Grant Peters —Trackside Photography.

“I knew ‘Juzzy’ (Bahen) through a few mutual friends at the Port Melbourne Bowling Club, he goes down there a bit when he’s back in Melbourne, he grew up around there.

“I am in a few horses with those blokes and I knew they had this Brutal colt and I was just laughing with them and said ‘get me in’ and before I knew it Juzzy had gotten me in the horse, which I am very thankful for.

“A lot of the owners in Brutal Bowler are in Sydney Bowler, they have also had Usain Bowler, which was a nice horse — anything that ends in Bowler is pretty much from the Port Melbourne Bowling Club.”

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Flying to Alice Springs on Saturday morning to play Fremantle on Sunday, Fritsch says he will make time to watch his charge go around at Eagle Farm following an explosive victory at the Sunshine Coast earlier this month, which landed a sizeable plunge.

Fritsch in action at the MCG last week.

“I am pretty laid back when it comes to footy, I don’t get ultra nervous, I probably get more nervous before my horse runs because it is out of my control,” he said.

“When I’m playing footy, I have some control over what I can do for the team and play my part to help get the run.”

.@CWilliamsJockey rolls in for his only race of the day and provides a pearler of a ride on Brutal Bowler to win the Sacred Elixir!@Leesracingpic.twitter.com/rhsJvJ7Tep

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 19, 2024

Looking to life after football, Fritsch, 27, says he is keen to be involved in the racing industry in a greater capacity eventually.

“A lot of people get it mixed up thinking you’re a mad gambler if you like the horses,” he said. “I love a punt, don’t get me wrong, but I love everything about it — going to sales, going to track work and trials and there are great people involved.

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“I’m still pretty new to it all but I am really interested in it, I got my first horse probably four years ago.

“I have an interest in getting into racing after footy, I am keen to pick their brains a bit, whether it is doing some work experience or heading to the sales.

“I have a fair few horses with a few different trainers, but they are mostly untried, there have been a few winners.”

With a bye on Stradbroke Handicap week in a fortnight’s time, Fritsch is keen to be trackside for the Group 1 JJ Atkins (1600m) should Brutal Bowler line up.

Originally published as Footy Star Bailey Fritsch’s $1m nerves for Brutal Bowler in BRC Sires’ Produce