Dubai Honour finished strongly to take second, ensuring a British one-two, while Japanese-trained Stellenbosch held on for third.
Giavellotto made a strong late surge to claim victory in the prestigious Group One Longines Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin, underlining his class. Trained by Marco Botti, the gelding, a two-time Yorkshire Cup winner, last raced in September where he finished third in the Irish St Leger.
Dropping back to a mile and a half for this race, Oisin Murphy settled Giavellotto early on the rail as the Japanese runner Pradaria set a moderate pace. As the field turned for home, the leading horses, including Luxembourg and favourite Stellenbosch, made their moves on the outside. Murphy initially looked trapped for room, but once he found a clear path, Giavellotto responded with impressive acceleration to secure a comfortable win.
Dubai Honour finished strongly to take second, ensuring a British one-two, while Japanese-trained Stellenbosch held on for third. Luxembourg, in his final race, came home fifth, while Continuous from Aidan O’Brien's stable struggled throughout, finishing in ninth.
Murphy was full of praise for his mount, saying: "He had a perfect trip until we turned into the straight. He relaxed well and was in a great rhythm. He got squeezed turning in, and often that can halt a horse’s momentum, but he really found another gear late on."
Botti also praised Murphy's strategic input, crediting him for suggesting the Hong Kong Vase after the Irish St Leger. "Oisin was adamant we should target this race. It was only Giavellotto's sixth run of the year, and he was fresh. We knew the drop back to a mile and a half on a faster track could suit him, and it paid off," said the trainer.
Giavellotto's victory earned him over £1.3 million, a significant prize for breeder and co-owner Francesca Franchini. Botti also acknowledged the owner's decision to turn down multiple offers for the horse, which paid off with this major win. "It’s a dream come true for the owner, who believed in this horse," he added.
Dubai Honour, trained by William Haggas, was beaten by two and a half lengths. Tom Marquand, aboard the runner-up, noted that despite a slightly keen start, Dubai Honour finished well and ran a solid race on ground that wasn’t ideal for him. Maureen Haggas, assistant trainer, was pleased with the effort, saying: "The winner was exceptional, but we’re delighted with how Dubai Honour ran on ground faster than he prefers."
