Much has changed in the past 12 months for the What Ever Syndicate, but one thing has remained constant - Franco Ledger is still a fast horse.
The pacer affectionately known as "Ledge" was at his lethal best in the $25,000 Hannon Memorial at Oamaru yesterday, producing a stunning burstto win his second Hannon Memorial in a row, after last year's success on the same course.
In a race where the pace really came on in the last lap, the leaders paced the last 800m in 54.2 seconds and the final 400m in 26.4 seconds - brisk by anyone's measure.
Sadly, there was one member of the 10-strong syndicate who made the winners' speech last year but wasn't at Oamaru yesterday.
Paul O'Neill, a former Otago rugby representative and Waikouaiti Trotting Club president, died in May, leaving a gap in the supporters on the bank at Oamaru yesterday.
"There's always sadness when any horse steps out for us with Paul passing away," syndicate member Brendon McIntyre said.
The 6-year-old son of Falcon Seelster has built a reputation as a seriously fast horse, highlighted by his huge run for second behind Terror To Love at the Harness Jewels in June. The entire was timed off the television by officials to have run his final 400m in 24.4 seconds that day - although McIntyre's stopwatch topped out even faster.
The circumstances for Franco Ledger have changed this year as well. In 2012, he was chasing a spot in the New Zealand Cup, whereas he is safely within the top 15 on the rankings for the cup.
