Side Glance retired from racing

The winner of more than £1.7m in prize money, Side Glance has been on box rest with a leg injury, and although sound it has been decided at the age of eight he has done enough. This morning, at Andrew Balding's Park House Stables in Kingsclere, the trainer and his travelling head groom, Leanne Masterton, said farewell to the horse before he left for a new life at a private yard in Oxfordshire run by Sarah Friend. Sarah is open-minded about plans for her new arrival, but believes he could fit the bill in showing classes under the Retraining of Racehorses scheme.

A pat for Side Glance from Andrew Balding

Side Glance ran in 40 races, and won or was placed in 22 - his final 17 races were all at the top level, and he invariably picked up prize money. His wins included the Gr.1 Mackinnon Stakes, Gr.3 Diomed Stakes, Gr.3 Sovereign Stakes and two Listed races, but he also put up some brilliant performances in defeat.

Reflecting on the horse's career, Andrew said: "Winning the [Gr.1] Mackinnon Stakes must rank as the highlight, but his fourth place in last year's Cox Plate, when he was beaten just half a length, was a brilliant effort. On the back of that we felt he had a great chance of winning the Mackinnon again, but he suffered a slight tweak, and was unable to run.

"He was so courageous, durable and versatile - he was third to Frankel over a mile in one of the strongest Queen Anne Stakes there has ever been, and went on to be top-class over ten furlongs. Horses like him, that can take you to the big occasion, are always nice to have - he has run in Hong Kong, Singapore, America, Canada, Australia, Dubai, and always went with a chance of winning. We'll miss him, because he was bred by my mother and has been here since he was a foal, but he's going to a good home."

Leanne agreed with her boss that the Mackinnon Stakes win was the highlight, saying: "It was amazing to win a Group One with a horse that deserved it so much. Spence [Jamie Spencer] gave him a brilliant ride, the racecourse was packed and the atmosphere was unlike anything I've known.

Friends old and new - with Leanne and Sarah

"The locals gave him a great reception, and he even built up a following with the media and photographers who travelled on with him from Australia to Hong Kong. A lot of horses thrive on international travel, and he was one.

"Saying goodbye to him is very tough - in the last two and a half to three years I've spent more time with him than any human. This time last year I was in Monmouth [for the Gr.1 United Nations Stakes, in which he finished third] and it was my birthday, but I didn't know another soul, so I celebrated with him and a pizza!

"I won't lose touch with him, and will be going to see him armed with Polos, which he loves."

A glance at Park House Stables, Kingsclere, for the final time

Of Side Glance's future, Sarah said: "I like my horses to be all-rounders, so he will see a bit of everything and that way we'll see what he takes to. I think he has the potential for showing, because his conformation is correct, and in most RoR classes the horses are bay, and he will really stand out being black and stunning.

"Taking in a horse like this is so rewarding."

Heading to his new home - and no flying this time