Exhibit (17)(a) Form of Proxy Card PHOENIX APPRECIATION FUND, A SERIES OF PHOENIX TRUST (FORMERLY KNOWN AS PHOENIX-ZWEIG TRUST) 900 THIRD AVENUE, 31ST FLOOR NEW YORK, NY 10022 PROXY FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS March 19, 2004 PHOENIX APPRECIATION FUND The undersigned shareholder of the Phoenix Appreciation Fund (the "Merging Series"), a series of Phoenix Trust (the "Phoenix Trust"), revoking any and all previous proxies heretofore given for shares of the Merging Series held by the undersigned ("Shares"), does hereby appoint Philip R. McLoughlin and Richard J. Wirth, and each of them, proxies and attorneys of the undersigned, with power of substitution to each, for and in the name of the undersigned to vote and act upon all matters (unless and except as expressly limited below) at the Special Meeting of Shareholders of the Merging Series to be held on March 19, 2004 at Hartford, Connecticut and at any and all adjournments thereof, with respect to all shares of the Merging Series for which the undersigned is entitled to provide instructions or with respect to which the undersigned would be entitled to provide instructions or act with all the powers the undersigned would possess if personally present and to vote with respect to specific matters as set forth below. Any proxies heretofore given by the undersigned with respect to said meeting are hereby revoked. To avoid the expense of adjourning the Meeting to a subsequent date, please return this proxy in the enclosed self-addressed, postage-paid envelope. In the alternative, you may vote by telephone by calling toll-free [ ] and following the recording instructions or by Internet by following the instructions on this proxy card. Prompt voting by shareholders will avoid the costs associated with further solicitation. This proxy, if properly executed, will be voted in the manner as directed herein by the undersigned shareholder. Unless otherwise specified in the squares provided, the undersigned's vote will be cast "FOR" the Proposal. If no direction is made for the Proposal, this proxy will be voted "FOR" the Proposal. THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE TRUST WHICH RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THE PROPOSAL ACCOUNT NUMBER: SHARES: CONTROL NO: TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS: [X] KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED VOTE ON PROPOSAL REORGANIZATION OF FUND 1. To consider and act upon a proposal to approve the Agreement For Against Abstain and Plan of Reorganization, dated [________ __, 2004], and the [ ] [ ] [ ] transactions it contemplates, including (a) the transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Phoenix Appreciation Fund, a series of the Phoenix Trust, to the Phoenix Small Cap Value Fund, a series of Phoenix Investment Trust 97, in exchange solely for shares of the corresponding class of the Phoenix Small Cap Value Fund and the assumption by the Phoenix Small Cap Value Fund of all known liabilities of the Phoenix Appreciation Fund and (b) the distribution of the shares of the Phoenix Small Cap Value Fund so received to shareholders of the Phoenix Appreciation Fund in complete liquidation of the Phoenix Appreciation Fund. TO TRANSACT SUCH OTHER BUSINESS AS PROPERLY MAY COME BEFORE THE MEETING OR ANY ADJOURNMENT THEREOF. NOTE: PLEASE SIGN EXACTLY AS YOUR NAME APPEARS HEREON. IF SHARES ARE REGISTERED IN MORE THAN ONE NAME, ALL REGISTERED SHAREHOLDERS SHOULD SIGN THIS PROXY; BUT IF ONE SHAREHOLDER SIGNS, THIS SIGNATURE BINDS THE OTHER SHAREHOLDER(S). WHEN SIGNING AS AN ATTORNEY, EXECUTOR, ADMINISTRATOR, AGENT, TRUSTEE, GUARDIAN, OR CUSTODIAN FOR A MINOR, PLEASE GIVE FULL TITLE AS SUCH. IF A CORPORATION, PLEASE SIGN IN FULL CORPORATE NAME BY AN AUTHORIZED PERSON. IF A PARTNERSHIP, PLEASE SIGN IN PARTNERSHIP NAME BY AN AUTHORIZED PERSON. THIS PROXY MAY BE REVOKED BY THE SHAREHOLDER(S) AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE SHAREHOLDERS. _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ Signature (PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX) Date Signature (Joint Owners) Date