PRESS RELEASES

ANDREW BALDING WINS AWARD FOR HIS TRAINING OF PHOENIX REACH

Andrew Balding was presented with the award for international trainer of the year following some high-profile successes with Phoenix Reach.

COURTESY OF THE SPORTING LIFE - December 2005

EDMONDSON TAKES TOP AWARD
Richard Edmondson has been crowned journalist of the year at the annual Horserace Writers and Photographers Association Derby Awards.

The Independent's correspondent, who is moving to India, was presented with the prize at a glittering ceremony at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London.

Edmondson beat off competition from last year's winner Alan Lee of the Times, the Daily Mail's Colin Mackenzie and Tom O'Ryan of the Racing Post.

At The Races' Robert Cooper was named broadcaster of the year, while freelance Bill Selwyn lifted the photographers' award for the first time.

Ruby Walsh sprung a minor surprise when breaking Tony McCoy's nine-year grip on the National Hunt jockeys' award, while champion Flat jockey Jamie Spencer topped his division.

Paul Nicholls was named the National Hunt trainer of the year and Michael Bell took the Flat award after a season highlighted by Motivator's success in the Vodafone Derby.

Andrew Balding was presented with the award for international trainer of the year following some high-profile successes with Phoenix Reach.

The George Ennor Trophy, for outstanding achievement in the sport of horseracing, went to long-serving senior clerk of the scales Peter Sayer.

Steve Kingstree from Jeremy Noseda's yard and Ernie Peterson from Micky Hammond's stable both received a £500 cheque from sponsors Blue Square after landing the stable staff of the year award, together with a further £250 each from Racing Welfare.

Veteran trainer Reg Hollinshead was awarded the President's Trophy for achievements including actions beyond the requirements of their job.

Hollinshead's son, Andrew, received the award as the handler is currently recovering after an operation.

Hong Kong Festival

Big Win for Balding

Alice Plunkett (courtesy of Channel 4 Racing)
12.01.05
The post race scenes were mental. The owners have very enthusiastic and glamorous children who celebrated as you should when you win a Group One. Andrew just looked dazed, Anna-Lisa was crying and we were laughing all the way to the bank.
The weirdest thing was that there was a slight delay to the start as Phoenix Reach had broken his bridle. Afterwards Andrew admitted that the interruption hadn’t worried him.

'Before the Japan Cup I dreamt that he had broken the bridle and we had got one from Aidan O'Brien to replace it and he won. It didn't happen then, but I wasn't too worried when I saw he broke his bridle before the start here.'

The conventional bridle was replaced with a red plastic one, so don’t be surprised if you see all Kingsclere horses from now on running in the lucky red bridle!

The whole race day this year was as good if not better than any before. I’m lucky to have worked on racing all around the world but I would always say that the Hong Kong International race day is the best.

SPRING APPEARS OUT OF REACH

MEDIA RELEASE
Tuesday 30 August 2005

British horse Phoenix Reach (IRE) will most likely miss the Spring Racing Carnival after a training mishap on the weekend.

A multiple Group 1 winner, the Andrew Balding-trained Phoenix Reach (IRE) was entered in the Carlton Draught Cox Plate (2040m) and the Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m).

Following a track gallop Phoenix Reach (IRE) pulled up lame in the off fore leg, with a suspected hairline fracture to a pastern. Initial x-rays were inconclusive, however, further x-rays revealed the injury.

Balding spoke to Racing Victoria Director of Racing Operations Stephen Allanson on Monday to confirm Phoenix Reach (IRE) was unlikely to travel. He’ll have bone scans to assess the extent of the injury and head for a spell.

Courtesy of The Racing Post

QUOTES

15 May 2005 Kranji (10S,RPR117) He ran a super race, a blinder, I thought I had it won. For an English horse to come out here, it was an exceptional performance. - Martin Dwyer, jockey; I can't complain, he's run a very solid race. The realistic options are Hanshin in Japan or the Prince Of Wales’ Stakes at Royal Ascot. Alternatively, we could give him a rest and wait for the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. - Andrew Balding, trainer

24 Apr 2005 Sha Tin (10M,RPR120) I was really pleased with that. He missed four days work afterbeing cast in his box, and he couldn't do anything yesterday after his pinched girth. He was putting weight on and was heavier than he usually is and, along with his wide draw, all these little things didn't help him. - Andrew Christou, owner's rep; We weren't beaten far at all. We were checked in the straight and that lost him a place or two, but otherwise he travelled well and ran a really solid race. I'm happy enough. -Martin Dwyer, jockey; He just did not quite get the run of the race and that probably cost him third. Maybe he's better over a mile and half, but he wasn't disgraced. There were a lot of good horses behind him. I think the locally-trained horses do have an advantage, but I think the South African horse Greys Inn is top-class and we got pretty close to him. - Andrew Balding , trainer

26 Mar 2005 Nad Al Sheba (12M,RPR121) Although we had been delighted with his work, we were just worried about the draw. Phoenix Reach has done brilliantly and would have an even better record if he hadn't put in a couple of below par efforts last summer when he wasn't right. Hopefully he will come out of the race well as he due to ship out to Hong Kong on April 6. Hong Kong was always the plan and we were always going to stay here as it halfway there. The Cox Plate is his autumn goal and the Coral-Eclipse would be a race to consider for him in Britain in mid-Summer. He had worked pretty well at home without the blinkers which is why he didn't have them on this time and we would be looking to Australia in the future for him - Andrew Balding, trainer

12 Dec 2004 Sha Tin (12M,RPR120) I was travelling so well, got a great position and then quickened really well, he's a Group 1 winner and been placed in an English Classic, so he was entitled to win this - Martin Dwyer, jockey; The horses, especially the older horses, have not been right this season, and Phoenix Reach was suffering with a viral infection. Thank God he's produced it for us - Andrew Balding, trainer

28 Nov 2004 Tokyo (12F,RPR116) He's run a great race and I'm thrilled with him. It's not been an easy time for the horse this season but I was very encouraged by the way he reacted to the blinkers and the goodthing is he's still a fresh horse. If we are invited I'm keen to go on to Sha Tin for the Hong Kong Vase - Andrew Balding, trainer

04 Jul 2004 Saint-Cloud (12D,RPR114) He just got tired. It was only his second race of the year and he needed it but he will be better for the run. - Martin Dwyer, jockey; He's not an easy horse to train and he really needed the outing. This race has definitely put him spot on for the King George and we're not disappointed. - Andrew Balding, trainer

13 Sep 2003 Doncaster (15G,RPR117) He ran really well, just showing a bit of inexperience. He raced a bit hot and cold in the race but he came home well and has not had many miles on the clock. - D Holland

29 Jul 2003 Goodwood (12G,RPR113) My surgeon Simon Knapp told me that it was a 50-50 chance as to whether he would ever run again, so to win a race like this is amazing. - Andrew Balding; He's a true Leger horse, this fella. He got to the front and just idled, but he fought off Kieren and then he fought off High Accolade as well. - Darryll Holland

03 Jul 2003 Newbury (12G,RPR88) He's a very nice horse who split a pastern after finishing second on his debut at Salisbury and I have big hopes for him. I thought I had him straight enough and I would have been disappointed if he hadn't have won. He's a class act and will certainly be entered for the St.Leger and we'll have to see how we go - Andrew Balding, trainer