Italy on the podium on the big day of the Hong Kong Cup. The ‘Vase’, the traditional Group 1 trial over the 2400 metre distance, was won by Giavellotto, trained in England by the Italian Marco Botti and co-owned by the Italian stable La Tesa of Ms. Francesca Franchini, who is also its breeder, and the Indian, resident in Dubai, Vaibhav Shah, wearing the jacket of which, in an alternation established by the co-ownership agreements, took to the track at the Sha Tin racecourse.
Inspired the mount of jockey Oisin Murphy who waited for the right moment to launch the cue from the son of Mastercraft. Marco Botti was keen to thank him at the prize-giving ceremony because it was precisely from the Irish jockey after his placing in the Irish St Leger (3rd place) that the proposal to attempt the adventure in the Far East had come. For Javelin this was the seventh career victory, but the first ever Group 1 after previous Group 2 successes.
The story of Javelin and La Tesa is closely linked to that of the women’s line. The third mother Green Leaves, purchased by Eugenio Colombo, was one of the first mares for the Franchini family and has been on the historic meadows of Bagnolo Mella ever since. Sadly Gerika, the mother, died after giving birth to foal 2023 by St. Mark’s Basilica but Francesca Franchini did not miss at the recent Tattersalls Auctions the full sister Wrightia pregnant at 15 March by Kodi Bear.
This is not the first time Italian horses have triumphed in Hong Kong. How can one forget 2003 when in the Hong Kong Cup Falbrav beat Rakti for a historic one-two. Then, too, Falbrav raced under the colours of co-owner Teruya Yoshida but was all Italian, bred by Luciano Salice.
Of note in the meeting was the third consecutive victory and thus an absolute record for Romantic Warrior in the Hong Kong Cup.
