By Duane Fonseca
Marco Botti’s Giavellotto exacted racing revenge on Eldar Eldarov, his conqueror in last year’s St Leger at Doncaster, when the pair met in the 2800m Group 2 Yorkshire Cup Stakes at York Friday evening.
Andrea Atzeni timed his ride to perfection, first racing the 4yo Mastercraftsman colt at the back of the field of six before getting him to empty his tank in the battle of the home stretch. With 600m left to run, Giavellotto looked solid even as longtime leader Quickthorn looked to continue asserting himself on the pack. But the pressure was always going to be too much with Giavellotto, who gained the ascendancy 200m out, hanging left just before the finish.
Roger Varian’s backbencher Eldar Eldarov, David Egan up, tried to make a last-ditch effort but it was a little too late as Giavellotto put the race to bed by a half length. Aidan O’Brien’s joint favourite Broome was a further length back in third under Ryan Moore.
Botti said: “He came across a little bit in the last furlong, he didn't interfere with the runner-up but Andrea said he was just idling a little bit once he hit the front. Last year he ran a huge race in the St Leger, he didn't have much luck in Dubai with the wide draw, but we've always thought he was a very good stayer.
“He’s still very lightly raced. It was a good field with the St Leger winner and Broome in there, but I thought we would be here with a chance. I put a line through the race in Dubai, he was drawn in stall 15 and it just didn't go to plan but we were confident he would run a good race.
“It's very important, it's been a couple of quiet years so to have a horse of this calibre is great. It's great for the staff at home and for the owner, who bred the horse."
Sounds Of Heaven found that little bit more to win the Listed Oaks Farm Stables Fillies’ Stakes for Jessica Harrington and Ronan Whelan, hanging on in the mile run by a short head from Queen For You, trained by John and Thady Gosden and ridden by Robert Havlin. A neck back in third was Godolphin’s Silver Lady for Charlie Appleby and William Buick.
Emirati connections enjoyed success on the card too, Shadwell witnessing Mostabshir, trained by the Gosdens, winning the Darley Novice Stakes over a mile under Buick, and Marhaba The Champ, trained by Kevin Ryan and also guided by Buick, taking a 2100m handicap for Jaber Abdullah.
Karl Burke and Sam James combined to land the Listed Marygate Fillies’ Stakes with Got To Love A Grey, who made all in the 1000m sprint.
