EYDON BIDS TO GIVE ANDREW BALDING A SECOND HONG KONG VASE
Leading British trainer Andrew Balding will bid to win a second Hong Kong Vase when EYDON lines up in the Group 1 contest at the Hong Kong International Races on Sunday 14th December.
Balding won the Vase in 2004 with PHOENIX REACH only one year after he started training. In 2024 the trainer was represented in the Group 1 Hong Kong Cup at the same meeting with THE FOXES, who raced well to finish fourth behind multiple Group 1 winners ROMANTIC WARRIOR and LIBERTY ISLAND.
Eydon, who is owned by Prince A A Faisal from Saudi Arabia, won the Group 2 Gran Premio Del Jockey Club in Italy on his last outing. He also won at Group 3 level earlier this year.
Balding spoke to Great British Racing International (GBRI) about Eydon:
“Eydon has always been a high-class horse but he has been unlucky with small problems throughout his career. He won the Group 3 at Newbury in good style earlier this season after a lay off and really looked well then. He then had some minor problems that put him off for a few weeks, and they were all unrelated. He came back in September but was really at his best when he won the Group 2 in Milan.
“We have had a clear run with him since and the horse seems to be happiest on a sound, firm surface so we did not have any options in Europe. So, we were very much focused on options abroad and we were thrilled when we got the invite for the Hong Kong Vase.”
He also reminisced about winning the Vase in 2004 and talked about the quality in Hong Kong:
“I have some very happy memories of Phoenix Reach’s win in the Hong Kong Vase. I had first been to Hong Kong for the International Races with my father in 1996 when he had a horse called TAGULA finish fourth in the Hong Kong Mile, which was then called the Hong Kong International Bowl.
“I had always wanted to have runners at that meeting after that and for Phoenix Reach to come along so early was fantastic. He won the Canadian International at three and was lightly campaigned at four. He ran well enough in the Japan Cup to be invited to Hong Kong and really improved at Sha Tin.
“At that time, it was probably the best feeling of my training career and it still ranks very highly. It is a moment I will cherish forever.
“The calibre of the home team at the Hong Kong International Races is so much stronger than it used to be. You really have to bring your best horses to be competitive now. Last year, The Foxes was a three-time Group 2 winner going there and even he found better in Romantic Warrior and Liberty Island.”
The 2025 season has been incredible for the Kingsclere-based trainer with three Group 1 wins in Britain at Ascot, Newmarket and York for owners from China, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. He also won a further 23 Stakes races including the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot.
The trainer who is seeking his 125th career Group/Graded win also talked about his success this season:
“We’ve enjoyed a fabulous season. It has really been one we have enjoyed from the outset. We started very strongly and we had horses performing through the year. It has been a season to remember with three Group 1 winners. We have been blessed with some top-class horses thanks to our great owners and we hope to repeat the feat next year.”