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Giavellotto gallops to Princess Of Wales's Stakes success

Marco Botti's stable star backs up his York success with victory at Newmarket.

GIAVELLOTTO winning the Princess Of Wales's Stakes at Newmarket in England.
GIAVELLOTTO winning the Princess Of Wales's Stakes at Newmarket in England. Picture: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images

The Marco Botti-trained staying star doubled his tally for the season when seeing off his rivals in the Group 2 Princess Of Wales's Stakes at Newmarket on Thursday afternoon.

The five-year-old chestnut twice finished behind Tower Of London earlier this year, firstly when third in the valuable Red Sea Turf Handicap at Riyadh in February before going on to finish fifth in the Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan a month later.

A return to home turf would see Marco Botti's charge get back to winning ways with a smooth victory in the Group 2 Yorkshire Cup Stakes in May and he was subsequently sent off a 100/30 chance in his quest to follow up on the July Course.

The field of six split into two groups of three, with Arrest ensuring the gallop was a good one throughout towards the centre of the track. Kieran Shoemark allowed his mount to stride on into a clear advantage with seven furlongs to travel but push soon came to shove on the John and Thady Gosden-trained contender and as he drifted towards the near side rail under pressure, the eye was quickly drawn to Giavellotto.

Marco Botti's colt stayed on strongly between the two Juddmonte-owned horses and with proven stamina over further assured, victory never really looked in doubt once he moved to the front under Oisin Murphy.

Arrest attempted to rally inside the final furlong, but he could never match the staying power of Giavellotto, who pulled away in the closing stages for a comfortable three-and-a-quarter length success.

Time Lock finished a further two-and-three-quarter lengths behind in third.

The 11/10 market leader Hamish, who was held up towards the stands' side rail, looked in trouble from a long way out and was ultimately well-held back in fourth.

"He showed he is not short of speed, especially on a stiff course. There was a genuine pace, and we were a little bit concerned about the ground, but I think it has just about dried out enough to be on the soft side of good and it was a nice performance," said the winning trainer.

"Last year we were campaigning him at two miles and we went to Goodwood. We always felt he stayed well but it was stretching him over that trip. At the same time, he has looked a stronger horse this year and we thought he probably has more speed than he did last year. Dropping back to a mile and a half was never really a concern I was always confident he would show his best today.

"He started off very early and went to Saudi Arabia and then Dubai, he has been on the go for a while, but he enjoys the travelling and takes his work very well. We tend to space his races out a little bit, but at the same time, he has definitely matured mentally since last year.

"I would say he is quite versatile; he has won on really fast ground and today he handled a little bit of cut in the ground. As long as it is not too soft, I think he is fine.

Giavellotto now looks set for a tilt at the Irish St Leger, although winning trainer Marco Botti insisted ground conditions would need to be right for the two-time Yorkshire Cup hero.

Botti added: "He will go to the Irish St Leger and hopefully, we get our ground – obviously it is a time of the year when it could go very soft. That has always been the plan, and this was a stepping stone."


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