3 minute read

Twenty years after his first success in Hong Kong, Andrew Balding is looking to turn back time with The Foxes in the HK$40 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin.

The colt has another tough task ahead of him as he takes on the globally admired Romantic Warrior, having finished fifth in the 2023 Group 1 Epsom Derby to another internationally acclaimed horse, Auguste Rodin.

This season, The Foxes has been hit by injury and only visited the racetrack three times, but after succeeding in a Listed contest at Newcastle, Andrew Balding felt it was the right decision to supplement The Foxes for the highlight race in Hong Kong.

Balding said: "He's got a fair bit to find with Romantic Warrior, but I think we are certainly in the mix with the others. He has come out of his recent win at Newcastle very well and I can't feel we could have him any better. He's a horse we have always thought a lot of.

"We had issues with him, but with plenty of time off and careful rehabilitation, he seems right back to his best. He showed that he was back on his A Game at Newcastle."

The Foxes runs in the colours of King Power Racing, who are possibly most recognised for their ownership of Leicester City.

The late Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha founded King Power and have twenty horses under Balding's care at Kingsclere, who are now overseen by "Top" Srivaddhanaprabha.

On Top's enthusiasm for the game, Balding said: "He's always taken a keen interest in the racing. He's very supportive and it would give us great pleasure to win this for him."

The British trainer hasn't sent a horse to the International meeting for several years, and The Foxes represents Balding's best chance since Phoenix Reach was saddled to win the 2004 Hong Kong Vase, before adding the Dubai Sheema Classic and Canadian International to his globetrotting success.

Speaking about his current Hong Kong challenger, Balding revealed a surprising comparison: "I think The Foxes is quite similar to Phoenix Reach, to be honest. If we have the right horse, Hong Kong is on the agenda."

At Sha Tin trackwork on Wednesday, The Foxes worked as a trio with two other UK-trained horses, Starlust (Hong Kong Sprint) and Giavellotto (Hong Kong Vase), with those two horses ahead of him. He built up to a strong canter for a lap of the all-weather track, clocking 1.33.1 (30.4s, 31.0s and 31.7s) over six furlongs (1200m).

Stable representative Dwayne Pettitt stated after the morning work: "I was very happy with that. It's just a case of keeping him ticking over. He'll have a blowout on the turf tomorrow. He takes everything in his stride and he's very relaxed. That's the best he's been moving for about three months. He just needed to get his head in front on the track."

The Foxes is expected to take on Romantic Warrior in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin on Sunday 8 November.