By Alan Carasso
Entering Sunday's G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase, the first of the four Group 1 events at the Longines Hong Kong International Races, trainer Marco Botti and jockey Oisin Murphy were a combined naught for 10 at the meeting, but the 5-year-old stayer GIAVELLOTTO (IRE) (h, 5, Mastercraftsman {Ire}–Gerika {Fr}, by Galileo {Ire}) overcame some trouble turning in, weaved his way between horses inside the final furlong and streaked clear to take the 2400-metre contest. Settled behind midfield and saving ground as Japan's Pradaria (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) galloped them along at no pace whatsover, Giavellotto followed the move of 2023 G1 Melbourne Cup winner Without a Fight (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) down the back of the track. Gong strongly on the turn, Giavellotto was moved away from the fence nearing the straight, but struck some trouble and was maneuvered to the inside of the swansonging Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and sprinted clear for a convincing victory. He is the first British-trained winner of the Vase since the late Red Cadeaux (GB) (Cadeaux Genereux {GB}) in 2012. Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride of Dubai {Aus}), making a fourth trip to Hong Kong, ran on nicely for second, while favored Stellenbosch (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) finished third after looping rivals on the bend and just failed to finish off her race with the necessary gusto. Lifetime Record: 18-7-2-5. O-Scuderia La Tesa Limited & Vaibhav Shah; B-Societa Agricola La Tesa SRL; T-Marco Botti.
Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
LONGINES HONG KONG VASE-G1, HK$24,000,000, Sha Tin, 12-8, 3yo/up, 2400mT, 2:27.53, gd.
1–GIAVELLOTTO (IRE), 126, h, 5, by Mastercraftsman (Ire)
1st Dam: Gerika (Fr), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Green Tern (Ity), by Miswaki Tern
3rd Dam: Green Leaves (Ire), by Rheingold (GB)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Scuderia La Tesa Limited & Vaibhav Shah; B-Societa Agricola La Tesa SRL; T-Marco Botti; J-Oisin Murphy; HK$13,440,000. Lifetime Record: MGSW & G1SP-Eng, G1SP-Ire, GSP-KSA, 18-7-2-5, $2,652,794. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Dubai Honour (Ire), 126, g, 6, Pride of Dubai (Ire)–Mondelica (GB), by Montjeu (Ire). (110,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-Mohamed Obaida; B-Macha Bloodstock/Meridian International; T-William Haggas; J-Tom Marquand; HK$5,040,000.
3–Stellenbosch (Jpn), 121, f, 3, Epiphaneia (Jpn)–Bloukrans (Jpn), by Rulership (Jpn). O-Katsumi Yoshida; B-Northern Farm; T-Sakae Kunieda; J-Joao Moreira; HK$2,760,000.
Margins: 2HF, 1, NK. Odds: 11-1, 12-1, 12-5.
Also Ran: Ensued, Luxembourg (Ire), Marquisat (Fr), Five G Patch (Ire), Iresine (Fr), Continuous (Ire), La City Blanche (Arg), Pradaria (Jpn), Without a Fight (Ire), Ka Ying Generation (Ire).
Click for the HKJC chart, PPs and sectional timing. VIDEO.
Cracking ride, @oismurphy! 🇬🇧 Giavellotto pounces late to land the 2024 @LONGINES Hong Kong Vase… 🏆@AtTheRaces | #HKIR | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/m8mfCf0Jl3
— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) December 8, 2024
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