Irish Guineas hero Phoenix Of Spain to retire to Irish National Stud

The Irish National Stud has announced that the Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Phoenix Of Spain will retire to become its latest resident stallion ahead of the 2020 covering season.

Bred on the Shamardal sire-line responsible for the 2019 Group 1 winning juveniles Victor Ludorum, Earthlight and Pinatubo and the champion sprinter Blue Point, Phoenix Of Spain is the highest-rated son of Lope De Vega to retire to stud, as well as being his first Classic winner.

Phoenix Of Spain made a smart start as a two-year-old and his trainer, Charlie Hills, said in tribute: "The fashion of his Acomb win told us we had a proper horse on our hands.

"Three weeks later his second to Too Darn Hot in the Champagne Stakes confirmed this. The Vertem Futurity was an obvious target for us after his Champagne run and he was unfortunate not to get the decision that day from Magna Grecia by a head.

"When he renewed his rivalry with Too Darn Hot and Magna Grecia my thoughts were confirmed when he beat the high-class field in the Irish 2,000 Guineas.

"I believe this was one of the fastest Guineas run in history. Being a Classic winner by Lope De Vega, given his strength, physique, character and acceleration, Phoenix must have an exciting future at the Irish National Stud and I look forward to purchasing and racing his offspring."

INS CEO Cathal Beale added: "When our team went to see Phoenix Of Spain, we all agreed he had the exceptional physical we had been looking for and we knew there and then he was the perfect fit for us.

"To then go on and win the first Classic at the new Curragh, on our doorstep, was fantastic. There will be a limited number of shares available in him and a fee will be announced shortly."