Reach Retired Phoenix Reach, a winner at the highest level in Dubai, Hong Kong and Canada, has been retired to stud.The six-year-old was trained by Andrew Balding throughout his 16-race career, which also yielded wins at Goodwood and Newbury in addition to his Group/Grade One successes.Phoenix Reach finished third in the 2003 St Leger after missing the early part of the season through injury but went on to take the Canadian International later that year, before adding the 2004 Hong Kong Vase and 2005 Dubai Sheema Classic.He sustained an injury in last year's King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes and has disappointed in two starts since his return.'Phoenix Reach has been our stable flagship since I started training and we will miss him terribly,' trainer Andrew Balding told www.thoroughbredtimes.com.'He achieved so much in spite of some very bad luck and his appetite for competition was second to none.'It takes a very special horse to travel across the world from one top-class race to the next and still perform at the very highest level.'Phoenix Reach will stand at the National Stud in 2007, although a fee has yet to be set. (C) PA Sport
