 |
|
| Staff Writer |
 |
Giavellotto's impressive performance at York has earned praise from Marco Botti, who expressed his pride in the horse's brave run in defeat. Now, connections are considering the possibility of a Melbourne Cup bid later in the year.
At the Lonsdale Cup, the Yorkshire Cup champion returned to the site of his previous victory and put up a good fight against Courage Mon Ami and Coltrane, who finished first and second in the Ascot Gold Cup. While Marco Botti's Giavellotto finished in third place, two lengths behind the leaders, Andrew Balding's horse emerged as the winner. Despite his defeat, Giavellotto demonstrated his impressive staying power, leaving his trainer far from disheartened.
Botti said, “It was a good run and he was beaten by two proper stayers who finished first and second in the Gold Cup. They are the best stayers around and maybe they just outstayed him.
“I always thought one-mile-six would be Giavellotto’s optimum trip. He gets the two miles but when he runs against the proper stayers, maybe the final furlong gets a bit hard work.
Giavellotto To Compete In Two Prestigious Races
Giavellotto is set to participate in the Comer Group International Irish St Leger at Curragh on September 10 and the Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup at Ascot on British Champions Day scheduled on 21st October. It is worth noting that Botti is keen to race Giavellotto in the highly anticipated ‘race that stops a nation’ at Flemington, but the final decision rests with owner Francesca Franchini of Scuderia La Tesa Limited.
“He’s a horse who wouldn’t want the ground too soft. He is in the Irish St Leger, but we thought by then you don’t know what the ground will be,” explained Botti.
“We are still discussing about the Melbourne Cup and I’m pretty sure we will enter him and then finalise the plans. Otherwise, in England it will just be Champions Day as the only goal left for him.”
He went on: “I would be in favour (of going for the Melbourne Cup). The fact he went to Dubai and is a horse who travels well and I also think the track will suit him – it is similar to York, a left-handed track.
“I think he will get in. He won a Group Two so he should make the cut for the Melbourne Cup, but then it is up to the owners as it is quite an expensive trip to take on and as we know the rules are quite strict before the race. The vetting can be tricky but he is a sound horse.
“If we take that route, hopefully, all goes to plan, and I would be in favour if the owner wanted to go.”
In case a visit to the Southern Hemisphere falls through, Botti is considering other possibilities overseas for Giavellotto's five-year-old campaign as he believes that his stable's top performer will continue to get better with more experience.
“He’s a nice horse to still have in the yard and we have been able to win a Group Two this year,” he added.
“He’s a nice horse to have and maybe campaign abroad next year, whether that be Dubai or Saudi Arabia. We’re not planning too far ahead but he’s definitely a horse who has scope to get even better.”