Frespanol bounces back from float accident to regain winning touch at Caloundra

FRESPANOL, one of the miracle survivors from the Sunshine Coast float crash in April, returned to winning form at Caloundra on Wednesday.

FRESPANOL, one of the miracle survivors from the Sunshine Coast float crash in April, returned to winning form in Wednesday’s rescheduled Open Handicap at Caloundra.

The $60,000 1350m sprint was one of 13 races run at the Sunshine Coast meeting.

Trainer Tony Gollan watched Frespanol win from the Ready To Run Sales in New Zealand and took extra satisfaction given what the six-year-old went through.

“That’s as satisfying a win as I’ve had for a good while,” Gollan said.

“He was an older horse that found his way to our stable for a new group of clients and the day of the crash was meant to be his first run for us.

So proud of this old horse. One of the toughest horses I have trained. Frespanol's win was more than satisfying today.

— Gollan Racing (@tonygollan) November 16, 2016

“The owners have been sensational to deal with and have been happy to be patient.

“He wasn’t badly injured in the crash, but I just wanted to give him a long enough spell to get him mentally right.

“He had a good rehabilitation at Washpool Lodge but I was mindful I wanted to get him back to give me enough time to give him a run or two before the good races came around.

“Alannah Fancourt didn’t ride him (Jim Byrne was the winning rider) but she deserves a lot of credit because she’s done a heap of work with him.

“It’s just fantastic to see him back in that kind of form.”

Frespanol returned to form with a strong win at Caloundra on Wednesday.

Gollan said Frespanol would run next in the Recognition Stakes at Eagle Farm on Saturday week.

Of the three other horses in the float crash, Whiskey Allround has had one run back and will race in Sydney on Saturday.

Casual Choice and Jetsonic have recently had a jumpout.

Witnesses to the April accident said it was a miracle no one was killed after the float veered off the highway and slid on its side down an 8m embankment.

Gollan has high hopes for another comeback galloper, Didntcostalot, in Saturday’s Keith Noud Quality at Eagle Farm.

The eight-year-old has not raced since stretching multiple Group 1-placed Fell Swoop in the Victory Stakes in April.

Tony Gollan, left, rounds up his horses after the float crash in April.

“He seems to have come to hand really well,” Gollan said. “I know he nearly beat Fell Swoop, but I just felt something wasn’t quite right with him that day and he had a slight injury, so we turned him out to prepare for the summer again.

“He’s had two jumpouts and is forward enough to win and pleasingly, he seems to handle Eagle Farm really well.”

Gollan also has in-form Most Important and Rocket To Glory in the Noud.

“I think Most Important is better at Doomben than Eagle Farm, but this was a good chance to get him down in the weights and he looks like getting a nice run behind the speed,” Gollan said.

Ryan injured in Caloundra fall

QUEENSLAND jockey Ryan Wiggins was taken to hospital after a fall at the Sunshine Coast on Wednesday. Wiggins was riding the favourite Puissance Decheval who went through the running rail at the 800m in the seventh race.

Ambulance officers attended to Wiggins on the track and then took him to Nambour Hospital with a suspected broken leg.

with AAP

Originally published as Frespanol bounces back from float accident to regain winning touch at Caloundra