Tollesprit 19/9/09

Mark Pegus bounces back from horror fall to ride in carnival
ADRIAN DUNN, MELBOURNE
September 17, 2009 11:30pm
JUST as well Mark Pegus can't remember the afternoon of Saturday, July 18. Or more particularly, about 4pm.
Pegus was involved in one of the more frightening falls. It was like watching a car crash with Pegus in the driver's seat, blind sided by the locomotive that was about to clean him up.
King Of Ashford, the horse he was partnering, suffered a fatal heart attack 400m into the race. In the sad, closing seconds of its life, the horse veered sideways before Pegus was hurtled head first into the turf.
Although he suffered a cracked right shoulder and a broken left wrist, Pegus considers himself lucky. So, too, stewards who recoiled in horror when replays of the fall were replayed in the steward's room on Wednesday.
"He was lucky he didn't break every bone in his body," cringed steward Sally Miller.
Fortunately, King Of Ashford was at the rear of the field and just as fortunately he careered on an outward line rather than towards the running rail.
It was a dreadful end to what was a spectacular season.
Pegus rode 91 winners, good enough for a top-10 finish in the state.
Pegus, who returns tomorrow to Caulfield for the first time, has no recall of the fall.
"I was conscious, but I can't remember anything until 7pm that night," Pegus said.
"I looked down and I had plaster on my wrist. I had no idea what was going on."
He's hoping that when he leaves that track it's under his own volition and his memories are more vivid and spectacular for far different reasons.
With a sliver of luck the 31-year-old could register one of his finest days. He rides Gold Salute in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes and rides the Shane Fliendner-trained Tollesprit in the colts and gelding Guineas Prelude.
"Both are genuine chances," enthused Pegus.
"Gold Salute has drawn a perfect gate, should sit right behind the speed and he should improve on his first-up run, which was terrific."I just think people don't realise just how good this horse is. Look at his win in the Winter Championship. He came from near last, was trapped deep and sustained a 400m sprint to win."
While Gold Salute appears well placed, Pegus is very bullyish about Tollesprit despite bumping into glamour Sydney youngsters Manhattan Rain and Trusting.
Tollesprit comes off a luckless sixth in the Danehill Stakes. Pegus is adamant that if this son of Bel Esprit had clear running he would have tested Black Caviar.
Fliendner has applied blinkers for the first time, an addition that Pegus believes will definitely assist.
"He galloped in blinkers the other morning and it improved him a fair bit," Pegus said.
"He's as good a horse as I've ridden, I wouldn't be surprised if he made a Cox Plate horse next year."
Now, that's something that will invoke pleasant memories.