Giavellotto produced an irresistible surge up the Sha Tin straight to stamp his authority on the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase (2400m) under Oisin Murphy at Sha Tin on Sunday , ending a 12-year drought for British-based trainers at this meeting, dating back to the Ed Dunlop-trained Red Cadeaux in 2012.
The five-year-old son of Mastercraftsman has established himself as a high-class stayer over trips between 2800m and 3200m and trainer Marco Botti gave credit to Murphy for giving him the confidence to come back in trip to 2400m at this rarified level.
“Credit to Oisin because first thing after the Group 1 Irish St Leger (2800m), he mentioned this race and he was adamant that we should come here,” said Botti. “We followed Oisin’s advice and it worked out well.
“Giavellotto was fresh coming into the race and it was only his sixth race of the year. We knew that, if he handled a drop back to a mile and a half (2400m) on a sharper track than Newmarket – where he won in the summer- we had a chance.”
Giavellotto slid comfortably along the rail down the back straight in the third wave, but his challenge looked to have hit the buffers when the gap slammed shut at the top of the straight, just as Joao Moreira launched Japanese-trained favourite Stellenbosch with a big run down the outside.
Murphy refused to panic and, having spotted the leaders a couple of lengths start, cut back to the inside and broke the logjam at the head of the race, coming home two and a half lengths clear of fellow Newmarket resident Dubai Honour, while Stellenbosch stayed on for third.
“It was all very comfortable until I got to the turn, then I had to wait,” said Murphy. “And of course then you’re worried that the race is going to get away from you.
“But he showed an incredible kick to get going. He was always going to win from a furlong out so I was really able to soak it up.
Murphy lost his UK jockeys’ championship title to William Buick in 2024 but is still able to reflect on the perfect end to a strong season.
“It’s very special,” said Murphy. “I was dreaming about winning this morning and then I stopped myself because you don’t want to pre-empt and get into that frame of mind. You have to approach the race with instinct and fortunately it worked out.
“That’s my fourth Group 1 winner of the year and I had five last year. You always want more – how many have Ryan (Moore) and ‘JMac’ (James McDonald) had this year? – but I’ve no complaints and hopefully next year can be a good one as well.”
Botti has always had to fight both numerically larger yards in Britain and the irresistible pull of big-money offers to buy his best middle-distance horses to race abroad, so felt a special sense of satisfaction that he had been able to repay breeder and co-owner, Francesca Francini.
“The owner was very brave to resist some very good offers and most of the time they get sold and we lose the horses,” said Botti. “Then to find the next one is not easy.
“Credit to the owner, who has a lot of faith in this horse and it has paid off. It’s just a dream come true. He was in Saudi early in the season and ran a solid race, and then went to Dubai. He’s just got better and better and he loves travelling.”
Tom Marquand also had to wait his turn before launching Dubai Honour, who added second in the Hong Kong Vase to a third and a seventh in two tries around Sha Tin in the Group 1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m), as well as a fourth in the 2021 Hong Kong Cup.
Assistant trainer Maureen Haggas said: “He was just a little bit keen early and Tom wanted to get him to settle. He was well back and travelling really well turning in and you thought if he got the gaps, he was going to run a really very good race, which he did.
“The winner is a very good horse and got first run on him but he ran a hell of a race on ground that we all know is faster than he really likes, so you’ve got to be thrilled.”
Stellenbosch was given a patient steer from stall 13 by Moreira until making a major move around the home turn, and the three-year-old Epiphaneia filly ran courageously to be third for trainer Sakae Kunieda and owner Katsumi Yoshida.
Moreira said: “She was fantastic. We were a bit unlucky because we couldn’t get onto the fence but she is a proper horse and I’m very proud of how she ran.”
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