Marco Botti’s stable star Giavellotto will return to Hong Kong in December via Europe after his fourth British Group 2 success.
The son of Mastercraftsman returned from an 84-day layoff to beat Kalpana in a scintillating renewal of the Hardwicke Stakes. Kalpana looked certain to go on and take the race after hitting the front, but couldn’t fend off the challengers.
It was his ninth career success, six of them coming in pattern company. He has taken connections around the globe, with his biggest success coming in the 2024 Hong Kong Vase. He could only manage second in the race last season, but connections are keen to have another crack.
Marco Botti told the Press Association, via At The Races, that: “It’s been great, I thought it was one of his best performances. Obviously it was a really tough race and Oisin gave him a good ride.
“It was a good field and I think he’s proven he’s as good as anyone else in the race. He’s come out of the race fine, he’s a tough horse. Even in the previous run before Ascot, his form had been really consistent. In the Arc, Hong Kong, Qatar and Dubai for a horse that didn’t have a proper break.
He ran in October in the Arc. Then Hong Kong was in December, Qatar in February and Dubai in March. You have to find a really tough horse to do that.”
“He’s an incredible horse, we’ve been everywhere with him” – Marco Botti
Giavellotto was brought on steadily through the ranks by Botti, and continues to improve with age. Botti went on, stating: “as he’s got older, he’s stronger and faster than he used to be. Because he’s shown a turn of foot which as a three-year-old he wouldn’t have done.
“We’ve looked after the horse and given him plenty of time to mature, but now it is paying off. He’s an incredible horse, we’ve been everywhere with him and he just keeps pulling out the good performances.”
Marco Botti was keen to avoid a clash in the King George, instead minding him for future international targets: “We already said that Hong Kong would be the priority and that remains our main target. But it’s in December so we are trying to work back from there
“He has a couple of entries in Germany, the Group One in August – the race Rebel’s Romance won last year. So that could be an option and Baden-Baden in early September could be another option. Unless we then go to Canada, which is in October, and then Hong Kong. We said to the owners let’s wait to make the final decision.
“Maybe a Group One in Germany could be attractive and could add to his profile as a Group One winner in Europe as well, and that is where we might aim at.”