Phoenix Tower, the runner-up in four Group 1 races this year, has been retired after injuring a tendon while preparing for Saturday’s Emirates Airline Champion Stakes (Eng-G1).

Stud plans have not been decided for the four-year-old Chester House colt out of Bionic (GB), by Zafonic. Phoenix Tower finished second by a nose to Mount Nelson in the Coral Eclipse Stakes (Eng-G1) on July 5 at Sandown and second by three-quarters of a length to Duke of Marmalade in the Juddmonte International Stakes (Eng-G1) on August 23 at Newmarket, which turned out to be his final start.

“He was in really good form and it is a real shame as if ever a horse deserved to win a Group 1, it was him,” said Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager for owner-breeder Juddmonte Farms.

Henry Cecil trained Phoenix Tower, a Group 3 winner in his first start this year.