Sosie sparkles with Hong Kong Vase victory

Sosie once again mastered Giavellotto to give Andre Fabre a record fourth win in the Longines Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin.

The pair were separated by just a head when third and fourth in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe but Sosie increased that margin to three-quarters of a length as he claimed the fourth Group One victory of his career in the 12-furlong contest.

Los Angeles was the first to make his challenge at the top of the straight but Sosie and Goliath both swept by him in a matter of strides, with the Marco Botti-trained Giavellotto and Al Riffa also joining the battle in the final furlongs.

Defending champion Giavellotto tried his best to get back on terms but Sosie was just too strong, prevailing by three-quarters of a length, with Goliath a half-length third, just a neck ahead of Joseph O’Brien’s Al Riffa in fourth.

Fabre, who triumphed with Borgia (1999), Flintshire (2014) and Junko (2023), was represented by his wife Elisabeth who said: “Everything went perfectly. The race unfolded perfectly, he had a great trip and Maxime knows his horse very well, while Sosie had trust in him when he asked him for his effort.

“He is a very good horse with a wonderful mind and a lot of natural energy. He is magnificent to look at and he will stay in training next year.”

It was a third Vase win for Guyon after Flintshire and Junko and he said: “Everything went very smoothly

“I followed Los Angeles for three-quarters of the race, but halfway round the home turn, Ryan’s horse began to falter. This horse can really sustain his run, and he is such a hard horse to pass.

“It’s his fourth career Group One and he was in such great shape. We know he is capable of winning big races like this, and this year he has won at the top level over 1,850 metres (in the Prix d’Ispahan), 2,100 metres (Prix Ganay) and now the 2,400 metres.

“He is an incredible horse. This was the first time he’d travelled across continents, and yet he’s been relaxed every morning this week, and he’s looked amazing.”

Botti was satisfied with Giavellotto’s run in the hands of Andrea Atzeni.

He said: “As we thought beforehand, it wasn’t going to be a strong pace. Andrea said he thought the winner had first run, but he got to his girth for second and I thought it was a good effort. The winner is a proper horse, and they’re two good horses.”