Oisín Murphy ended a winless spell at Royal Ascot when he guided Giavellotto to victory in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes on Saturday. The seven-year-old gelding, trained by Marco Botti, was a 9/1 outsider despite an impressive international record, including four previous Group race wins with Murphy aboard, such as the Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin in 2024.

During the race, Murphy positioned Giavellotto patiently as the favourite, Kalpana, set the pace alongside Lambourn. Kalpana, ridden by Colin Keane, took the lead two furlongs from the finish, but Murphy tracked the move closely. Giavellotto responded strongly and managed to catch Kalpana in the closing stages, prevailing by a short head in a tight finish. Another contender, Goliath, was considered a threat until jockey Christophe Soumillon lost his irons, ending that mount’s challenge.

Reflecting on his breakthrough win of the week, Murphy noted encouragement from His Majesty The King, who urged him to keep persevering despite the earlier disappointments. He described Giavellotto as an “unbelievable horse,” highlighting their global successes and expressing satisfaction at finally scoring a victory at the prestigious Royal Ascot meeting.

Meanwhile, trainer Andrew Balding experienced a contrasting emotional journey at the meeting. He celebrated a photo-finish victory in the Wokingham Handicap with the 5/1 shot Double Rush, a relative of last year’s Dewhurst Stakes winner Gewan, who tragically died in an April workout. Balding described the win as a positive counterpoint to the loss, remarking on the significance of securing a Royal Ascot triumph for the owners after a difficult period.

The weekend’s racing thus combined moments of redemption and triumph, with Murphy ending his Royal Ascot drought aboard a proven international campaigner, and Balding turning personal tragedy into a cause for celebration thanks to a narrow but memorable win in the Wokingham Stakes.