Giavellotto handed Qatar target after brave Hong Kong Vase defence

Marco Botti has a shot at more international prize-money in mind for Giavellotto following his gallant run in the Hong Kong Vase.

Having won the race last season, he fell just short when bidding to retain his title, missing out by three-quarters of the length to Andre Fabre’s four-time Group One winner Sosie.

Botti was nevertheless thrilled with his stable flag bearer, who has become a model of consistency and clearly takes globetrotting in his stride.

“I was delighted, I thought he ran a great race and he showed once again how brave he is,” said the Newmarket-based Italian.

“He always tries his best and I don’t think we lost much in defeat, the winner is a very good horse and a younger horse.

“The race itself went smoothly, Andrea (Atzeni) placed him in a nice spot and maybe the pace was a touch slow early on, but once they started quickening off the bend he had a clear run.

“I just think he has probably been beaten by a better horse, there’s no disgrace in being beaten by Sosie and there were good horses behind them both.”

The Amir Trophy in Qatar will now come into focus for the six-year-old, another lucrative contest run over a mile and a half.

Botti added: “He came back and went straight to his food, you would think he hadn’t had a race.

“The great thing about him is he really enjoys these trips abroad, he thrives when you put him on the plane and he goes overseas.

“All being well we will go to Qatar for the Amir Trophy, it’s a race we didn’t consider last year because we felt he had a long season and we wanted to try the Sheema Classic, but I would say now Qatar is the priority and that’s the race we’ll head to.”