Marco Botti

Scuderia la Tesa and Vaibhav Shah's Giavellotto (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) is targeting the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic on Dubai World Cup night, Apr. 5. Said trainer Marco Botti of his new G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase hero, "I think we'll skip Saudi for sure and head to Dubai. After the other day we'll think about the Sheema Classic, that will be his next target all being well. "He is definitely a horse who enjoys travelling. He enjoys being away from the yard and it gives us chance to target those...

It isn't that they weren't expected to perform--each was sent away at 1-10 favouritism--but reigning Hong Kong Horse of the Year Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) and new sprint sensation Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) gave the Sha Tin faithful and a broader audience worldwide exactly what they wanted at Sunday's Longines Hong Kong International Races meeting. Romantic Warrior, purchased by Mick Kinane for 300,000gns at the 2019 Tattersalls October Sale as a prospect for the Hong Kong Jockey Club's Hong Kong International Sale, took out the G1 Longines...

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...

His grandfather managed studs for the late Queen Elizabeth II and his father has a notable track record as a bloodstock agent, so for Conor Norris a life in racing was perhaps inevitable. But he has gone his own way to a degree, and combines his role on Darley's nominations team with his hobby of running the syndicate Keep Kicking Racing. How did you first become involved/interested in racing and bloodstock? I was born and raised around a family passionate about racehorses and heavily involved in the industry. My grandfather,...

Carrying a penalty in Thursday's G2 Princess of Wales's Stakes at Newmarket, Scuderia la Tesa and Vaibhav Shah's Giavellotto (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) made light work of the task to enhance his reputation en route to the G1 Irish St Leger. Last seen impressively recording a second consecutive success in the G2 Yorkshire Cup over an extra two furlongs, the Marco Botti-trained 5-year-old was content to sit behind two rivals racing up the centre of the track and was already closing in with menace when Oisin Murphy gave the command two...

Friday's G2 Boodles Yorkshire Cup was all about Giavellotto (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), as last year's winner returned in rude health to dominate for the repeat on York's Knavesmire. Readily reversing the form of his latest fifth to Tower Of London (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G2 Dubai Gold Cup, the Marco Botti-trained 5-year-old who started at 7-2 cruised to Vauban (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) two out and bounded into the clear for a 4 3/4-length success under Oisin Murphy. Gregory (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}) was a further 3/4 of a length...

The G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches is likely to be the next port of call for Folgaria (Ire) (Due Diligence) following her victory in the G3 Fred Darling S. at Newbury on Saturday, her sixth victory from as many starts following an unbeaten two-year-old campaign in Italy when trained by Stefano Botti. Now in the care of Stefano's brother, Marco Botti, Folgaria was a welcome winner for the team at Prestige Place which has been mourning the death of the stable's former apprentice, Stefano Cherchi, following a fall in Australia...

A person whose job it is to promote horse racing was, rather disappointingly, being sniffy about the Craven meeting on social media last week. I understand that some people don't like racing at the Rowley Mile and, yes, last Tuesday in particular was a little challenging on the weather front. But if you're a Flat racing person, and particularly one who is being paid to tell other people that they should come racing, then you really should appreciate all that is wonderful about these weeks of Classic trials across Europe....

Scuderia Sagam's Folgaria (Ire) (Due Diligence--Full Moon Fever {Ire}, by Azamour {Ire}) went undefeated through a five-race juvenile campaign for Stefano Botti last year and, now under the stewardship of that trainer's brother Marco, retained her perfect record with a hard-fought triumph in Saturday's G3 Dubai Duty Free S. (Fred Darling S.) at Newbury. The February-foaled bay backed up a debut win at Milan's San Siro in May with a brace of Listed contests at Rome's Capanelle and back in Milan. She went on sabbatical after collecting July's G3 Premio...

Racing has been rocked by the news that jockey Stefano Cherchi, 23, has died from the injuries sustained in a fall at Canberra, Australia, two weeks ago. The former apprentice to Marco Botti had been riding Hasime in the third race at Canberra when his mount fell. A statement released on Wednesday morning by NSW Jockeys on X, previously known as Twitter, read, "With deep sadness, the Cherchi family have announced their beloved son Stefano passed away peacefully today. "The family are very grateful for the love, prayers & messages sent...

In Newmarket the rain is pouring and the sun, if it still exists, is being defiantly reclusive. But just one small click on a Zoom link and suddenly there is a backdrop of endless blue sky, and in the foreground the smiling face of Lucie Botti, back in Dubai for her umpteenth winter and looking understandably pleased to have escaped the English weather. Botti is of course married to Newmarket trainer Marco Botti, and for years their stable has had runners all over the world, but most often in Dubai...

Scuderia La Tesa's Giavellotto (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), a winner of the G2 Yorkshire Cup S. in May, will not travel for the G1 Melbourne Cup in November, with connections considering the G2 Long Distance Cup at Ascot instead, trainer Marco Botti revealed. "He's in good form and has come out of the race at York in fine shape, but we're not going to Australia," said Botti. "There were a few niggling problems and it's not going to happen this year unfortunately. "Hopefully next year if we still have him and...