Oisin Murphy is set to reunite with Giavellotto in the Hong Kong Vase on Sunday, December 8. Trained by Marco Botti, the five-year-old has had a stellar season, securing victories in the Yorkshire Cup in May and the Princess of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket in July.
Giavellotto's last outing was a third-place finish behind Kyprios in the Irish St Leger. Botti believes the Hong Kong Vase’s strongly-run mile-and-a-half could provide an ideal stage for his stable star.
"We spoke with the owner, and they’re happy to take a chance," Botti said. "We’ve had time to freshen him up since the Irish St Leger, and he’s in great form. Oisin Murphy should be free to ride him, and he’ll travel out next Friday after his final piece of work."
Botti is hopeful for firm ground at the Hong Kong International Races, noting that Giavellotto prefers top-of-the-ground conditions.
Reflecting on the season, Botti added: "This has been his best year. While he wasn’t quite at his peak in the Irish Leger, we still respect Kyprios as one of the world’s best stayers. The drop back to a mile and a half has always been the plan, and Hong Kong seems like the right fit with a strong pace."
The Hong Kong Vase will also feature European contenders such as King George winner Goliath, Fantastic Moon, and Iresine. Other notable entries in the Hong Kong International Races include Romantic Warrior in the Cup, alongside Spirit Dancer, The Foxes, and Content. Ralph Beckett’s Breeders’ Cup winner Starlust is set to compete in the Sprint, facing local favourite Ka Ying Rising, while the Mile will feature Lazzat, Ramadan, and Docklands against Hong Kong’s Soul Rush.