THE pain is still obvious, but the Ledger's move on by keeping Adrian's memory alive.
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Click play for the video with Adrian's father John and wife, Amy.
MARTIN Stein recalls Adrian Ledger riding for him only once.
But he certainly made it count.
The Albury trainer will target the race named in Ledger’s honour this afternoon with Capriev and said it would be an honour to return the favour.
“I’m fairly sure Adrian had one ride for us, for one winner,” Stein said.
“It would be an honour to win the race.
“It was devastating when it happened (a fatal race fall at Corowa in 2005) and it touched a lot of people in the racing industry around here.”
This time last year Stein was preparing Capriev to run in the Gold Cup.
Twelve months on and the local gelding is about to contest one of the lead-up races.
But it’s not Stein easing the six-year-old out, rather, running him in a more suitable race.
“He was only about seven lengths off in the Cup last year but I think it was just a little too tough for him,” Stein said.
“He’s been a good horse for us but we’ve stepped him up to that level a couple of times and he’s never really been up to it.
“We think he’s a big chance today.”
The biggest challenge for the Stein stable is setting Capriev for the trip.
He ran a narrow second, lugging 60 kilograms, over 1600 metres at Towong last start and must now find the stamina to run an extra 800 metres in today’s 2400-metre race.
But Stein’s not concerned by the step-up in distance.
“He’s back to 54 kilograms now and (jockey) Simon Miller knows the horse really well,” Stein said.
Stein, who spent six years as Might and Power’s strapper for legendary trainer Jack Denham, said he had a few cards to play this afternoon.
“Stepping up from a mile to 2400 is big, and it would be a great training performance, but I learned a bit from Jack Denham over the years,” he said.
“I’ll have a few tricks up my sleeve.”
While he kept those tricks close to his chest, Stein revealed it all started at trackwork.
“It’s more the slow pace work,” he said.
“You work the horse for longer, but not as hard, if that makes sense.”
