10 hours ago
Veteran galloper lining up for his eighth trainer wins Ipswich Cup at 48th start
Flash Aah's Ipswich Cup (2150m) victory is a story of the quintessential Aussie battler hitting the big-time, clinching the trophy at his 48th race start.
Beginning his career with a Townsville maiden victory in 2018, the enduring veteran was lining up for his eighth trainer and his victories stretched from as far north as Cairns to as deep down as Cranbourne.
The $31 TABtouch outsider found himself in the back half of the field as Akrotiri ($7) worked hard to hold the front with several runners keen to lead.
Switched off mid-stages, Flash Aah found himself amongst horses and with only four behind at the 600m while Felix The Scat ($14) hooked around him and made a surging move.
With rider Ron Stewart getting animated, Flash Aah tried to cover the run of Felix The Scat but with a sweeping bid, Mark Du Plessis sent Felix The Scat clear rounding the turn.
Balancing up in the straight, Troy Pascoe's rising 10-year-old continued to chip away at the margin and as the leader began to finally flag from the long run, Flash Aah ate into the margin.
In the final 100m, the son of Lucas Cranach gathered up the gutsy Felix The Scat and hit the lead with 20m remaining to win by a neck.
In triumph, he snapped a 1000-day winning drought with his previous victory at Bendigo in April 2022 when trained by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young.
'I wasn't counting, I knew that every day was closer to his next win,' his trainer Pascoe said.
'He's been all over Australia but he's in the right hands now.
'He's found his home. He loves life with us and we love him.
'He's like a big dog, like a big pet. He follows you around and he's just so relaxed.
'You get him out and he's looking at the butterflies and the rainbows.
'He just doesn't give a sh*t. He's a beautiful animal.'
Despite the longshot status, Pascoe's optimism didn't wane.
'I never lost faith in him. I kept saying that this was the race I wanted to get him in. I absolutely thought he could win it,' he said.
'I was blown away at the price, I couldn't believe it.
'My staff have done an amazing job. He ran third in this race four years ago and to come back as a nine, rising 10-year-old, they should take a bow.'
