Fireball Friday returned to the metropolitan winners list at Sandown Park last night, capping a remarkable return to racing.
The win was his first in city class since September last year when the now 3½ year old was retired following another injury setback.
“It is satisfying to get him back to the form he’s in now. He’s been through a lot and now back winning in the city,” said trainer Glenn Rounds.
Fireball Friday, or ‘Chevy’ as he’s known, has had more than his fair share of setbacks which began before his racing debut.
“He’s had three operations to repair his stopper tendon and have bone chips removed. His first one was before he started racing when he was about 18 months old.”
His racing career kicked off in December 2018 and began in promising fashion being placed in five of his first six starts before another forced layoff.
“We got him right to go and he had some starts before there were more issues and he needed to have another operation. On return he had another six starts and won two in a row at Sandown including a city win before it all happened again (in October).”
At that stage Rounds made the decision to retire Fireball Friday.
“He was resting at home and over time he started to gallop well and I thought I’d put him with the pups and act as a role model for them.
“He was doing that and over time started to move that well that I said to Maddi (Toner) ‘I’m going to put him back in work’.”
He resumed racing at Shepparton in March and won in best of the night time. Last night’s triumph was his sixth from just his 19 starts.
It’s been an eventual ride for Rounds, one he’s shared with good mate and Fireball Friday’s part owner Jason Woodbridge.
“I’ve known Jason for 30 years and we’ve been really good mates. He used to train greyhounds and that’s how I met him. He also owns Aeroplane Eric who won at Ballarat on Wednesday night.”
Fireball Friday was the highlight of a city winning double for trainer Glenn Rounds at Sandown Park last night.
Rounds’ other win on last night’s card came from Aston Peroni who was faultless and chalked up his third win on-the-trot at Sandown.
The performance of the night came from Tiggerlong Tonk in the Free-For-All, a stunning display of speed that backed up last week’s Easter Gift win. Click here for a wrap
Click here all of last night’s results
