ANDREW CHRISTOU - THE MAN BEHIND THE HORSE

It all began when Phoenix Reach was purchased from Camas Park Stud for 36,000 guineas by Andrew Balding on behalf of Winterbeck Manor Stud at the Doncaster St. Leger Yearling Sales.

Andrew Christou, the owner of Winterbeck Manor Stud, went to view what Ian Balding had described to him over the phone as the most complete and stunning looking yearling he had purchased for a while. Andrew had only read details about him in the sales catalogue which advertised him as a chesnut so it was a great shock to him when he went to see him for the first time. Ian was busy talking with the owner of the yard where Phoenix, together with another of the Balding horses were to be broken and Andrew set off to the barn where the two yearlings were stabled, looking for a well built chestnut colt, only to find that the chesnut was a tall unproportional colt, whereas the second colt was a beautiful bay! Turning back towards Ian Balding, who was on his way over calling out "have you not seen a more magnificant bay " thank goodness, an error was made in the sales catalogue, Phoenix Reach was actually a bay not a chestnut! At this early stage perhaps he should have known there was going to be trouble ahead.....!


Andrew Christou is the most passionate, caring, and patient person to both man and horse. He has an extremely spiritual side which has called upon so many times during Phoenix's life. Andrew and Phoenix Reach truly are the perfect match. Their lives it seems to have been lived in parallel. They have bravely faced their ups and downs in racing head on. Both could of given up the game but they continued to battled on.

Andrew Christou could feel Phoenix's pain each time there was an incident and meditated for many days and amazingly Phoenix Reach pulled through each time, with the help from two of the most talented veterinary surgeons in the country, Simon Knapp and Ian Wright. Without their skill and proffessional dedication Phoenix Reach would surely not have had a chance to recover and having been given that chance it was down to his sheer guts that Phoenix pulled through time and time again.

As a 2yr old, his debut run was at Salisbury on the 27th June 2002 . In the saddling box he became quite excited and banged his head on a roof bar when he reared up. His first time in the parade ring he was rather fresh and coltish and became quite hot. He showed his greeness during the race when cruising to the lead on the bridle and thinking that was enough when he hit the front and was beaten by a head by Norse Dancer. Following this race, during routine exercise on the gallops his handler heard a "crack" and it was later discovered that Phoenix Reach had split his pastern! Andrew's world was turned upside down.

After seven months box rest he began his steady climb back to the life he loved....racing! He ran at Newbury on the 3rd July 2003 and won by 1.25 lengths. It was great to see Phoenix Reach not only back on the race track, but to win in such style. He really seemed to be a star in the making!

His next run was at Goodwood on 29th July 2003 in a Group 3 race. He won. This was followed on the 13th September 2003 at Doncaster in the Seabiscuit St. Ledger Grp 1. He found himself blocked in behind tired horses two furlongs out but still ran a creditable 3rd behind Brian Boru and then on the 19th October 2003 he travelled to Canada to compete in the Pattison Canadian International Grade 1. He won triumphantly beating Brian Boru in the process. That was some achievement.

It was around this time that people noticed that Phoenix Reach didn't appear to mind the travelling, in fact, he seemed to quite enjoy it.

Safely back at home about a month later Andrew Balding noticed a slight swelling. Andrew Christou asked for an X-Ray straight away and it was news he really didn't want to hear. A hairline fracture appeared in the same area of the pastern so a second screw was inserted under another general anaesthetic and it was 50/ 50 whether he would ever race again! It was clearly a very worrying and traumatic time for everyone involved in him. Phoenix Reach was gutsy and he had an amazing turn of foot and he appeared to be improving with each race. Surely, his racing career could not be cut short so early.

Many prayers were sent and Phoenix Reach again recovered. After the operation, and box rest he was then back doing light training ready for his next outing at Ascot 16th June 2004 in the King George. During the race it became apparent that things again had gone very wrong.
Phoenix Reach was bleeding heavily from his throat due to a virus. Again he was off the track whilst he took time to recover.

The veterinary surgeon looking after him, Simon Knapp was amazed that he recovered so quickly and said he had guts to even want to run again after what he had experienced. The heavy bleeding which had restricted his breathing greatly during the race would have terrified most horses and put them off racing forever, but not Phoenix Reach. Once he had recovered he was ready to start his preliminary training again to get him ready to get back on the track.

Phoenix's next outing was on the 28th November 2004 in the Japan Cup Grade 1. He ran well coming 6th and then flew on to Hong Kong to enter the Hong Kong Vase Grp 1 which he won.

Phoenix Reach then had a well deserved rest and was then prepared for the Dubai Sheema Classic on the 26th March 2005.

This may have been his most stunning performance ever, coming from the very back of the pack to weave his way through all the horses to go on to win. It really was a tremendous effort from both horse and jockey, Martin Dwyer and clearly all the connections were absolutely thrilled with this performance.

Phoenix Reach returned back to Hong Kong 24th April 2005 at Sha Tin and he came an admirable 5th. His next stop was onto Singapore on the 15th May 2005. Phoenix "The Globe Trotter" ran extremely well but was just pipped at the post beaten by a head. No one realised what occured in the race until the next morning.

A phone call was made to Andrew Christou to inform him that the track had chemicals sprayed the day before and a large piece of dirt had entered Phoenix's eye causing him to rub the inner lining of his eye completely away and ulcerated it which meant immediate surgery under general anaesthetic. This operation took place in Singapore.

Many thoughts and prayers were with him. He was so many miles away and the surgeons had warned Andrew Christou that Phoenix may lose the sight in that one eye and if he did keep his sight, they did not know how much vision he would retain, and and whether he would be able to balance himself to ever race again. Yet again Phoenix was in the wars and endless prayers and meditating was once again required.

Get well cards and bags of his favourite treats were sent when he returned late one night from a long journey back from Singapore.

Andrew went to visit him the next day and was shocked to see the colour of his poor eye, it was completely white! He had a drain into his eye that was to have medication injected every 2 hours! The poor handlers took it in turns around the clock to make sure this was done. Andrew and his family cannot ever thank them enough especially Steve and Chad who went beyond the call of duty to look after Phoenix Reach. Their commitment to him was unbelievable. They clearly loved Phoenix Reach almost as much as the owners!

The handlers stayed with Phoenix Reach in Singapore until he was fit enough to travel home and had to take it in turns to travel 20 minutes by taxi to administer the drugs into his eye. These handlers were totally dedicated to the cause. They were away from their families for a couple of months which must have been very tough for everyone.

Phoenix, in his true form bounced back yet again with his eyesight returning and colour nearly back to normal and on target for the King George but Andrew Christou, just about to board his plane returning from his holiday had a phone call from Andrew Balding saying Phoenix had an upset stomach.

Andrew Christou rushed directly to the equine hospital from the airport met with Simon Knapp. Simon was very optimistic that he would make the King George in two weeks time even though he would miss 5 days of training but looking back, Andrew said that we were expecting too much from him and wished he had not of ran him in the King George as he wasn't on form and of course Phoenix doesn't ever do things by halves. During the race he was struck into which caused a nasty cut resulted in more box rest and a slow return to health!

Phoenix really is the most remarkable horse and possibly one of the most under rated.

Hopefully his talent, his guts and his love of racing and travelling wll be passed onto his progeny.

Phoenix Reach was retired to The National Stud at Newmarket in October 2006. He has covered over 40 mares in his first season, and everyone connected with him are looking forward with eager anticipation to the performance of his progeny when they commence racing in 2010!

Andrew Christou and Andrew Balding