Giavellotto (9-1) surged ahead in the final strides to defeat Kalpana (9-4 favourite) by a short-head in the Hardwicke Stakes on the concluding day of Royal Ascot 2026 on Saturday afternoon.
Veteran Horse Secures Major Victory
The Marco Botti-trained seven-year-old son of Mastercraftsman, who previously won the Group One Hong Kong Vase over 1m4f at Sha Tin in December 2024, added another significant victory under Oisin Murphy in the Group Two contest. The experienced gelding had finished third to Calandagan in the Group One Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan on his last start in March, but he provided a first winner of the week for both trainer Botti and jockey Murphy, who had previously ridden Kalpana.
Race Summary
Under Murphy, Giavellotto came from well off the pace to challenge Andrew Balding's Kalpana, ridden by Colin Keane, after the four-year-old mare had moved smoothly into the lead turning for home. In a thrilling finish, French raider Goliath was also in contention but jockey Christophe Soumillon lost his irons when coming through on the inside. Just as it seemed Kalpana would secure another Ascot victory, having won the Group One Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes in October last year, Giavellotto denied her in a bobbing finish. French raider Goliath (7-2) finished a length-and-three-quarters back in third, with Aidan O'Brien's Jan Brueghel (6-1) a further length-and-a-half adrift in fourth.
Trainer's Reaction
Italian trainer Botti was securing his third Royal Ascot winner and said: "When he got upsides I thought we are not going to win because the filly (Kalpana) just keeps finding, but he's an incredible horse. He's taken us around the world, and then to win at Royal Ascot – you can't ask any more than that. He's an unbelievable horse."
"The quality of the Hardwicke Stakes is such that we knew it was going to be Group One level, but he's never let us down. He was a bit warm beforehand, but that's just him. He winds himself up a little bit beforehand but in the race he's always given his best. He's tough."
"I don't think we'll be back for the King George (at the end of next month) because later in the season we want to go back to Hong Kong. We haven't actually entered him, because we want to keep him fresh. He likes travelling, and that I think will be the priority. He hasn't run a bad race, even in defeat. He was fourth in the Arc, second in Hong Kong, in Qatar he was probably a bit unlucky and then he was a respectable third in the Dubai Sheema Classic. I said to the owner let's try Royal Ascot, and of course every owner wants to have a horse here. It worked out well and I'm delighted."
"Oisin is a brilliant jockey. He had a plan in mind. He said I'm going to follow Kalpana as she will take me to the furlong mark. He's ridden the race he had already planned. He's a brilliant jockey and Giavellotto is just a brilliant horse."
Jockey's Perspective
Jockey Murphy, who was securing his 21st Royal Ascot winner but a first of the week, said: "I'm delighted – about time I got on the scoresheet. I've tried not to pity myself all week; this is just horses running round a field, obviously on a big occasion, but there are far greater things happening in the world. Try and keep a sense of perspective."
"I did think we'd get there. We went even enough, and the last half-furlong here is the slowest, so I felt that if I left my stick down until late, we might win. He's a very honest horse and loves fast ground. That's his set-up – a mile and a half, fast ground and plenty of argy-bargy."
Other Reactions
On runner-up Kalpana, trainer Balding said: "Very proud of her. The winner is a very good horse and we're probably slightly better on soft ground while he's very good on this ground, but very proud of the way she ran, and delighted for Marco and his team, because it was a hell of a horse race."
On third home Goliath, trainer Francis-Henri Graffard said: "I think with the draw we had, we were really far behind, and I don't think my horse would have had the energy to go and get to him. I am so pleased because I think the good Goliath is really back. We love to see him coming on the bridle like that. I think with what happened to Christophe, he didn't have a really hard race, so it will be better for the next race. It's hard to win at Ascot and you need a lot of luck, and this week we didn't have the luck with us, but it's still a very good performance from him. He made up a lot of ground and I think it's wonderful."
