The HK$26 million LONGINES Hong Kong Vase is shaping up to be one of the most competitive Group 1s over 2400m of the year internationally, with three pounds covering the top five runners on official ratings.

Connections of most of the main contenders will have been satisfied after Thursday’s (11 December) barrier draw, though Los Angeles and Ryan Moore must navigate a passage from stall 10 in the first of four top-level contests at the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races on Sunday afternoon (14 December) at Sha Tin.

The other leading international challengers are all in single figures, with Al Riffa in barrier two, Urban Chic in three and Sosie in barrier eight.

Francis-Henri Graffard said he was more than happy with gate four for Goliath, who he believes is a different horse to the one who disappointed on his first trip to Hong Kong in April.

“He’s really well now and while he has had far from a perfect season, he could finish off in style,” Graffard said. “He is in terrific form and this week you are seeing the Goliath that we all love to see. He is a happy horse who is moving very well and I’m delighted with him.”

When Giavellotto sprang a minor surprise in the LONGINES Hong Kong Vase 12 months ago, it was Oisin Murphy at the controls, but trainer Marco Botti has stuck with his old ally Andrea Atzeni after the Hong Kong-based jockey flew abroad to take the ride when fourth in the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2400m).

Atzeni told a packed media conference that Giavellotto’s turn of foot in defeating Dubai Honour in the 2024 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase had shown the horse in a new light.

“In his early days, I remember hitting the front on him at York and he hung left; he was very immature,” Atzeni said. “In Europe, he never won by very far, so I was actually very surprised to see him pull that far clear here last year.

“He’s just a different horse; he’s mature mentally and over a mile and a half (2400m) with a good pace, he’s got quicker with age and now shows much more speed.”

Atzeni knows the Hong Kong form inside out and believes that James McDonald may have a hope of getting in among the internationals on Sunday aboard the John Size-trained Bundle Award, a horse he knows well.

McDonald gave a positive update on the improving five-year-old.

“He’s trialled really well since (his last run),” McDonald said. “I find the Hong Kong horses at this meeting, they’re so hard to beat, even if they’re a little bit inferior to the overseas travellers.”

McDonald added of Bundle Award: “This horse is in really great form, his lead-up race was really good when he broke from out the back and rattled home in really good sectionals.

“He’s a young horse on the rise. The internationals will be very hard to beat but I rode a horse called Ensued in the (LONGINES Hong Kong) Vase last year and finished fourth, and this horse is better or at least as good.”

Sunday’s (14 December) 10-race fixture at Sha Tin starts at 12.25pm with the Class 4 Fairy King Prawn Handicap (1400m).