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OISIN MURPHY and Marco Botti hit the jackpot in Hong Kong as their lottery numbers came together perfectly.
Racing at an overlooked 12-1 odds, Giavellotto charged to victory in the Hong Kong Vase, claiming an impressive £1.3 million prize.
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On the downside, Sir Alex Ferguson faced disappointment, as his promising horse Spirit Dancer could only secure a ninth-place finish in the Hong Kong Cup.
This triumph in the Vase signifies Murphy’s milestone of winning a Group 1 race in all major racing countries globally, while it marks Botti’s first major win in seven years.
For those who didn’t rise early to see him win by two and a half lengths, one might assume it was an easy ride, but the truth was quite the opposite.
The five-year-old began to pick up speed before being trapped at the front of the straight, coming to an abrupt stop.
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Finding their rhythm again, Murphy and Giavellotto pushed ahead for another try, this time creating a clear route to a stunning victory, much to the delight of the 70,000-strong crowd.
Globetrotting Dubai Honour also faced challenges but secured an impressive second place for William Haggas, while Luxembourg finished fifth in his last race with Aidan O’Brien.
Murphy said: “I feel on top of the world. This horse has only gotten better with age and performed magnificently today.
“Typically, getting boxed in like he did two furlongs out makes it pretty tough to regain speed, especially in such a competitive race.
“Marco has done an incredible job with him, and I am deeply grateful. I feel very lucky to ride at these prestigious events around the globe, and I’ve always wanted to win here.”
British-trained horses were dominant in this race in the early 2000s, and this long-awaited victory is the first since Red Cadeaux’s success for Ed Dunlop 12 years back.
This was Botti’s third attempt at winning, following previous efforts with Jakkalberry and Joshua Tree.
He smiled widely: “It’s an incredible feeling; we’ve believed he could win a race like this for quite some time.
“The space was limited at the top of the straight, yet Oisin stayed composed, using his pace and timing to catch up with the leaders.
“It’s been a while since our last Group 1 victory. We’ve made several attempts in this race, and winning it is a dream realized.”
Meanwhile, Sir Alex Ferguson’s Spirit Dancer could not achieve another admirable international win, falling out of contention in the final stretch of the Hong Kong Cup.
Surrounded by fans and entertained with chants of ‘glory, glory Man United’ as he stood by the finish line, Spirit Dancer could not match the local champion Romantic Warrior, who claimed victory for the third successive year, delighting the audience.
Trainer Richard Fahey remarked: “I believe the ground was a bit too quick for him, and he just couldn’t finish the race properly.
“Nevertheless, he has given me, Sir Alex, and all his owners another wonderful experience. He brings us so much happiness.”
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