Phoenix considered for Newbury test

Phoenix Reach could bid to get back on the winning track at Newbury on Friday week.

The globetrotting six-year-old is on course for the Group Three Dubai Duty Free Arc Trial before reverting back to the top level.

A winner of Group Ones in Hong Kong, Dubai and Canada, Phoenix Reach finished last in the Arlington Million in Chicago last month after being on the sidelines since July 2005.

“He was disappointing in America. It was his first run for a long time,” his jockey Martin Dwyer told At The Races.

“He was a bit fresh, they went very slow and he didn’t go on the very firm ground – he wouldn’t let himself down.

“He’s back now and he’s moving well. I think the aim is to give him a run at Newbury in the Arc trial which is in two weeks and it will be an easier race than what he has been running in.

“Hopefully he can win that, get him back on track and take it from there.

Among the Andrew Balding-trained entire’s possible targets is the Emirates Melbourne Cup on November 7, for which he has been given 8st 13lb.

Dwyer added: “There are loads of races in the pipeline for him. He could go to Australia, but I think we want to to get him back into winning ways and give him a confidence boost.

“As long as he’s moving okay and he’s over his injuries, we will kick on from there.”