Sha Tin is set to sparkle this Sunday (14 December) as Giavellotto, last year’s unexpected hero, returns to chase glory in the HK$26 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m). Fans will remember the thrill as the Newmarket-trained six-year-old powered past Dubai Honour to claim a memorable victory — and now trainer Marco Botti is quietly hopeful for another storybook finish.
This year, Giavellotto will be reunited with Andrea Atzeni, the Newmarket-based jockey who guided him to G2 Yorkshire Cup success in 2023. Atzeni also partnered the horse in October’s G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, finishing a commendable fourth behind Daryz, proving their partnership has the mettle for top-level contests.
Botti, who has claimed elite victories around the globe since 2009, is optimistic about his six-year-old’s chances. “Last year was great. We went there with no big expectations and when he won, it was a great result for us,” he said. “This year, it’s probably a slightly better race in terms of quality. Andrea Atzeni is going to ride him, and we can only hope for a good draw.”
Giavellotto arrived in Sha Tin last weekend and Botti expects his charge to handle the travel with ease. “He’s been good at home. He did his last piece of work on Thursday on the Al Bahathri gallop in Newmarket with Marco Ghiani. I thought he worked well. He seems in the same shape as last year before Hong Kong,” Botti added.
Owned in partnership by Scuderia La Tesa and Vaibhav Shah, Giavellotto has raced only four times since his Hong Kong victory, including strong efforts in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic and Coronation Cup. A successful comeback win in the G3 September Stakes at Kempton, defeating top-class mare Kalpana, has set him up perfectly for a tilt at Vase glory.
“It’s important, as Hong Kong is quite late in the season, to keep them fresh. So that’s all good, and usually, he’s a good traveller. He hasn’t had many starts this year, so I feel he’s still fresh for this race,” Botti concluded.
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