Andrew Balding has given a positive update on his G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup entry The Foxes (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}), who is set to face Hong Kong superstar Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) on Sunday. He won a listed race at Newcastle over Group 1 winner Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}) last month and galloped at Sha Tin on Tuesday morning.
“He's got a fair bit to find with Romantic Warrior but I think we are certainly in the mix with the others,” said Balding. “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.”
The King Power racing runner won the G2 Royal Lodge Stakes at two and the G2 Dante Stakes at three, before running second in the GI Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes. The Foxes was fourth in the G1 Juddmonte International Stakes in August of 2023 and did not grace the racecourse again that year, after some setbacks. Third in the Winter Derby Trial Conditions Stakes this January, he was unplaced in the G2 Neom Turf Cup in February, and was ninth in the G3 Earl Of Sefton Stakes in April. Given another lengthy break, he returned to run fifth in the G3 Darley Stakes in October prior to his listed victory at Newcastle.
“We had issues with him straight after he returned from New York,” added Balding, who won the G1 Hong Kong Vase in 2004 with Phoenix Reach (Ire) (Alhaarth {Ire}). “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 when he beat Dubai Honour at Newcastle.
“We haven't had a horse for Hong Kong for several years. But it's always something we would like to do. I think The Foxes is quite similar to Phoenix Reach, to be honest.”
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