THE PHOENICIAN IS A PEACH

Peter Gelagotis’ 4YO, The Phoenician is poised to join a select club of Bel Esprits who have won over a distance after taking out the JP Slattery Handicap over 1711m at Sale today (6 June).
Only four Bel Esprit progeny have won over 1800m or longer – Superior Shadow, Spirit of Caplan, Bel Estar and Ring my Bel – and based on his performance at Sale, The Phoenician appears more than capable of winning more over longer trips.
While Peter didn’t have much luck with the Bel Esprit colt – Belgietto – at Flemington on Saturday after he missed the start, The Phoenician went some of the way to squaring the ledger on a heavy track at Sale: his second career victory.
The Phoenician is a sibling to four other winners (from as many to race) and his a full relation to the stakes placed WA sprinter, Peach Tree, who won two in town during March and April and went within a whisker of becoming Bel Esprit’s 10th stakeswinner when second in the Matchmaker-LR at Ascot.
Bred by Barree Stud and out of the Naturalism mare, Georgia (a half sister to Melbourne Group winner Painted Ocean), The Phoenician is part owned by Kevin Sheedy (above right).