Latest news with #FlashAah
The Australian
09-08-2025
- Sport
- The Australian
Trainer Troy Pascoe reveals how Flash Aah changed his life after divorce and near bankruptcy
As the bills mounted and a draining divorce took its toll on Troy Pascoe, the Toowoomba trainer questioned whether it was all worth it. The cruel arithmetics of racing had left battling trainer Pascoe facing bankruptcy and he was struggling to get out of bed in the morning. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Then along came old boy Flash Aah's shock victory at $31 odds in the $250,000 Ipswich Cup (2150m) on June 21 and, suddenly, Pascoe had a spring in his step again. The $145,000 winner's cheque helped ease the financial burden on Pascoe but when his 10-year-old gelding broke a 1000-day winning drought, it meant so much more than just the money. 'For how long he'd been out of the winner's stall and coming back from injury setbacks, I don't think people realise how big a feat that was for the horse,' Pascoe said about the galloper that has won more than $687,000 in prizemoney over an awe-inspiring journey. • Justice can be served for husband and wife in Townsville Cup Pascoe then opens up about the backstory to Flash Aah's story, the one that the general public don't know about when the TV cameras are fixed on a beaming trainer after an important victory. Veteran galloper Flash Aah wins the Ipswich Cup at big odds for trainer Troy Pascoe and jockey Ron Stewart. Picture: Grant Peters, Trackside Photography 'I'd been through a divorce and I was pretty much bankrupt,' he revealed. 'It was definitely tough. It's hard to get out of bed for horses that are going out to the bush and finishing midfield. 'I've never lost the love for training but it is always hard when you're down and out and you've got nothing really to look forward to. 'I don't know if I'm any better off in the financial part but mentally it (Flash Aah's win in the Listed Ipswich Cup) does help. 'To win a race like that means everything and I think it showed in my Channel 7 interview when I was choking back tears trying to talk about it. 'It was so surreal and it took about a month for it to sink in.' Pascoe and his mum Sue are part-owners of Flash Aah, who will race in an Open Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday as the longest shot ($26) in the 10-horse field. He said the veteran gelding's coat was glowing and he looked a 'million dollars' after a freshen-up following his sixth placing in the $300,000 Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m) on July 5. 'He'll be pick of the yard if he gets anything on Saturday,' Pascoe joked. But sadly, all good things must come to an end and Flash Aah is likely to be retired after he runs in the $125,000 Toowoomba Cup (2000m) on September 27. • Fairytale Queensland mare recovering from 'toxic' staph infection 'We do want him to have a good life after racing,' said Pascoe, one of eight different trainers who have guided the son of Lucas Cranach since November 2018. 'He's been good for the owners and he's been life-changing for me. 'He's like a big Labrador. You don't even need a lead on him. He just follows you around, knows his routine and dawdles along beside you.' The Flash Aah joy ride will soon be over for people like Pascoe and fellow part-owner Pat Fulton, the 73-year-old jewellery store owner who flew 3000km from Darwin to watch him win the Ipswich Cup. Then it'll be nose to the grindstone for Pascoe but at least his name has been put in lights, albeit briefly, thanks to Flash Aah's remarkable victory on that overcast winter's day in Ipswich.
News.com.au
08-08-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
‘It was hard to get out of bed': Toowoomba trainer Troy Pascoe reveals how Flash Aah changed his life after divorce and near bankruptcy
As the bills mounted and a draining divorce took its toll on Troy Pascoe, the Toowoomba trainer questioned whether it was all worth it. The cruel arithmetics of racing had left battling trainer Pascoe facing bankruptcy and he was struggling to get out of bed in the morning. Then along came old boy Flash Aah 's shock victory at $31 odds in the $250,000 Ipswich Cup (2150m) on June 21 and, suddenly, Pascoe had a spring in his step again. The $145,000 winner's cheque helped ease the financial burden on Pascoe but when his 10-year-old gelding broke a 1000-day winning drought, it meant so much more than just the money. 'For how long he'd been out of the winner's stall and coming back from injury setbacks, I don't think people realise how big a feat that was for the horse,' Pascoe said about the galloper that has won more than $687,000 in prizemoney over an awe-inspiring journey. Pascoe then opens up about the backstory to Flash Aah's story, the one that the general public don't know about when the TV cameras are fixed on a beaming trainer after an important victory. 'I'd been through a divorce and I was pretty much bankrupt,' he revealed. 'It was definitely tough. It's hard to get out of bed for horses that are going out to the bush and finishing midfield. 'I've never lost the love for training but it is always hard when you're down and out and you've got nothing really to look forward to. 'I don't know if I'm any better off in the financial part but mentally it (Flash Aah's win in the Listed Ipswich Cup) does help. 'To win a race like that means everything and I think it showed in my Channel 7 interview when I was choking back tears trying to talk about it. 'It was so surreal and it took about a month for it to sink in.' ☀ï¸� QUEENSLAND-BRED STAKES WINNER ðŸ�‡ FLASH AAH (9g) charges late to claim the Listed Ipswich Cup (2150m, Ipswich) for trainer Troy Pascoe. Bred by David Silver, he records win #8 and takes his career earnings over $683k ðŸ'� Congratulations to all connections. — Thoroughbred Breeders Queensland (@QldBreeders) June 22, 2025 Pascoe and his mum Sue are part-owners of Flash Aah, who will race in an Open Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday as the longest shot ($26) in the 10-horse field. He said the veteran gelding's coat was glowing and he looked a 'million dollars' after a freshen-up following his sixth placing in the $300,000 Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m) on July 5. 'He'll be pick of the yard if he gets anything on Saturday,' Pascoe joked. But sadly, all good things must come to an end and Flash Aah is likely to be retired after he runs in the $125,000 Toowoomba Cup (2000m) on September 27. 'We do want him to have a good life after racing,' said Pascoe, one of eight different trainers who have guided the son of Lucas Cranach since November 2018. 'He's been good for the owners and he's been life-changing for me. 'He's like a big Labrador. You don't even need a lead on him. He just follows you around, knows his routine and dawdles along beside you.' The Flash Aah joy ride will soon be over for people like Pascoe and fellow part-owner Pat Fulton, the 73-year-old jewellery store owner who flew 3000km from Darwin to watch him win the Ipswich Cup. Then it'll be nose to the grindstone for Pascoe but at least his name has been put in lights, albeit briefly, thanks to Flash Aah's remarkable victory on that overcast winter's day in Ipswich.
News.com.au
23-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Flash Aah's part-owner Pat Fulton was in her Darwin jewellery store last Friday when decided to catch a last-minute flight to Queensland
Flash Aah's part-owner Pat Fulton was working in her Darwin jewellery store last Friday when she succumbed to a nagging feeling that she needed to board a flight to Queensland to watch the veteran gelding contest the $250,000 Ipswich Cup. She had dreamt of the horse charging down the straight at Ipswich the night before and her gut instincts were screaming 'you have to be there to watch this race'. So the 73-year-old Fulton decided to embark on a spur-of-the-moment 3000km journey from the Top End to southeast Queensland. She rang her travel agent at 10am on Friday, just over 29 hours before the 2150m Listed race was due to jump, and booked the red-eye flight to Brisbane, arriving at 5:30am on Saturday. She then caught a bus to Gatton, where her sister Judy Schloss lives on a farm, before heading to Ipswich for the city's gala cup day. It turns out her instincts were spot-on as $31 roughie Flash Aah flew down the outside to cause a monumental upset in the Ipswich Cup and break a 1000-day winless drought. That's when the tears started to flow for Fulton, who is part of an ownership syndicate that includes her brother Terry, sister-in-law Narelle and Toowoomba trainer Troy Pascoe and his mum Sue. There were tears of joy too, given that Fulton had bet $50 each way on Flash Aah at the juicy price of $40. • 'He's found his home': Flash Aah springs monumental Ipswich Cup upset 'I was sitting in my jewellery shop on Friday morning and it just clicked that I needed to be down here (in southeast Queensland),' she said as her voice cracked with emotion. 'I had a dream on Thursday night. Flash was in the race running, and then I woke up. 'You get to the stage where life is so short that you just have to seize the moment. 'I could've stayed up in Darwin and watched it on the big screen with a few friends but it wouldn't have been the same.' Flash Aah, the son of Lucas Cranach, has been on a remarkable journey himself, culminating in his stakes win last Saturday, his fifth race under Ipswich-born trainer Pascoe. He started his racing career in November 2018 and has been through eight different stables, winning eight of 47 races and collecting $683,000 in prizemoney along the way. His last victory came in April 2022 when the rising 10-year-old won a Benchmark 100 race (1400m) under the guidance of Victorian trainers Natalie Young and Trent Busuttin. @IpswichTurfClub — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 21, 2025 'His best trainer is Troy, who's brought him back a treat,' Fulton said. 'We were just so happy that Troy could puff his chest out and say 'I've got a winner'. 'It was just magic. It's been a marvellous journey with Flash and hopefully it hasn't finished yet. 'This is the highlight of my year. I don't think I'll experience a moment like that again but having said that, you never know what Troy has up his sleeve for Flash. 'Flash turns 10 in August so we don't want to overcommit him. He'll let us know when he's ready to retire.' "I never lost faith in him" Dedication has paid off for Troy Pascoe after Flash Aah won the TAB Ipswich Cup at double-figure odds! @IpswichTurfClub @RaceQLD — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 21, 2025 • The emotions were still running at fever-pitch for Fulton when she boarded a flight back to Darwin on Sunday night. 'I've got to compose myself,' she said before continuing. 'The race panned out beautifully for us and when he started to come down the outside, me and Narelle knew he was going to win. 'That's paid for his feed for the next 12 months. The emotions were very high. 'My sister and I sat down at the Ipswich race club that night and we had a few drinks. I knocked off half a bottle of wine on my own! It was an amazing day.' @IpswichTurfClub @RaceQLD — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 21, 2025 Pascoe said on Monday that Flash Aah would likely run next in the $300,000 Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m) at the Sunshine Coast on July 5. 'Pat asked me if he can run his final race in the Darwin Cup next year so I might just do that,' he said with a laugh.
West Australian
21-06-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
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.'
News.com.au
21-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Flash Aah lands upset victory in the Ipswich Cup to end a 1000-day winning drought
Toowoomba trainer Troy Pascoe declared well-travelled gelding Flash Aah had 'found his home' after the $31 roughie pulled off a shock victory in the $250,000 Listed Ipswich Cup (2150m) on Saturday. The near 10-year-old has been through a total of eight different trainers over a journey of 48 races for nine wins at racetracks as far north as Cairns to Cranbourne in Victoria. Flash Aah began his career as a sprinter in November 2018 before gradually stepping up in distance, being shifted through various trainers before finally landing at Pascoe's stables at the end of 2023. He broke a 1000-day winning drought in the Ipswich Cup, with his previous triumph coming 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,' 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**. He's a beautiful animal.' The Tony Gollan-trained Felix The Scat ($14) looked to have the race sewn up before Flash Aah made a late charge to steal victory, with Raf Attack ($10) in third. Flash Aah was steered by veteran jockey Ron Stewart, who for a time worked in his family's butcher shop after returning to Australia from a successful riding stint in Singapore. 'He's been terribly unlucky,' Pascoe said about Flash Aah. 'Every start they've just walked and made it impossible for him to run home. '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. âš¡ï¸� Flash Aah lives up to his name and flashes home to take the TAB Ipswich Cup! ðŸ�† @IpswichTurfClub — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 21, 2025 '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.' Stewart said that from barrier four he followed Diabolo Bolt, ridden by Irish jockey Robbie Dolan, in the run. 'In all fairness to Robbie, he got held up around the corner,' Stewart said. 'It really unfolded nicely for us. He had plenty of room and just kept building in his gears. 'I thought I was going to get there comfortably but he had a look around but he got the job done. 'It was a really good training performance. The horse had time off, there is a story behind it and it is nice to get on him.'
