The Phoenician 4/11/2008

The Phoenician fails to fire

MATT CRAM
5/11/2008 1:00:00 AM
WANGARATTA trainer John Ledger’s new partnership with AFL legend Kevin Sheedy didn’t pay dividends at Echuca yesterday but the veteran trainer is hopeful the pair will share success in the future.
The Phoenician, part-owned by Sheedy’s Besprit Syndicate, made its racing debut in a 3YO Maiden Plate, Ledger’s only runner at Echuca for the day.
The well-bred colt is by Sheedy’s outstanding sprinter Bel Esprit, a relative of brilliant sire Naturalism and is one of two horses the former Essendon coach has in work, along with another handful in the paddock.
The duo met through acquaintances and Sheedy was impressed with what he saw at the Ledger stables on a visit to the region earlier this year.
Ledger said Sheedy was a terrific client and he had been taken aback by Sheedy’s passion for racing and easy-going nature.
“He’s a lot different person to what I expected,” Ledger said.
“He’s a very, very friendly person with everyone — young and old — and is just a delightful gentleman who loves Australia and Australian people.
“He loves his horses — he comes up every few weeks to take photos of them and for a coffee, even if they’re not racing.”
Ledger was hesitant about The Phoenician chances before its run at Echuca yesterday, which proved to be on the money as it finished outside the placings.
But he envisages a bright future for the colt.
“He trialed very well at Benalla but he’s an immature sort of horse,” he said.
“I thought he’d make a good first-up runner but he (drew) barrier 17 and it’s very hard for a baby to win from all the way out there.”
Ledger is enduring his first spring carnival in five years without a Flemington runner, but the veteran trainer is hopeful a batch of promising youngsters will take him back to the city sooner rather than later.
There are a few others that ran yesterday that Ledger has a high opinion of including the Swettenham Stud-owned Stormy Saga.