Toowoomba trainer Troy Pascoe saves one horses life and wins with the other on the Gold Coast

Saving Relampago’s life was the greatest moment of Troy Pascoe’s training career and while he never got to enjoy a win with the horse, he has been able to celebrate one with his full-brother Rapido Gris.

SAVING Relampago’s life was the greatest moment of Troy Pascoe’s training career and while he never got to enjoy a win with the horse, he has been able to celebrate one with his full-brother Rapido Gris.

Pascoe savoured Rapido Gris’ win in the QTIS Three-Years-Old Benchmark 65 Handicap (1400m) on Saturday at Gold Coast in what was the second straight victory for the three-year-old gelding.

It came two years after his only run with Relampago, an eighth-place finish at Doomben.

“I only had (Relampago) for a month and he got pneumonia and nearly died,” Pascoe said.

“It took six months to save his life, he is never going to be a racehorse now.

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“The vet wrote-him off and told me to put him down but we spent six months experimenting with different drugs from the vets to save him.

“He turned the corner around the four-month mark and it was like winning the lotto.

“It was probably the greatest moment I have had with horses as a trainer, to save his life.”

Winner of race 3 Rapido Gris. Ridden by Ron Goltz at the Gold Coast Turf Club. (Photo/Steve Holland)

Relampago is now retired in a paddock in Brisbane and Pascoe said his history with the horse made Rapido Gris’ win all the more special.

“ (Relampago) is like this bloke (Rapido Gris). He has a really good temperament and is lovely to be around,” Pascoe said.

“Relampago is Spanish for lightning and we named this fella after him. Rapido Gris is Spanish for fast grey and so far it sounds all right.”

Winner of race 3 Rapido Gris. Rides by Ron Goltz with trainer Troy Pascoe at the Gold Coast Turf Club. (Photo/Steve Holland)

Rapigo Gris finished third on debut at Dalby at the end of August before securing wins at Toowoomba and now Gold Coast.

“It was a nice, tough win,” Pascoe said of Saturday’s result.

“He still has no idea what he is doing. He has surprised us a bit this prep but he has always shown ability.

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“We thought they would go steady so we didn’t want to get too far back.

“We think he is a better horse ridden quiet but when we knew they were going to go slow we had to put him in the spot to be there at the right time.

“He probably got to the front way to early on him but I’d rather him do that then be locked in the fence”