The British national anthem rang out around Sha Tin for the first time in over a decade as Giavellotto and Oisin Murphy bolted up in Sunday’s Group One Longines Hong Kong Vase (2,400m).

Giavellotto ended Britain’s 12-year wait for a victory at the Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) with an emphatic two-and-a-half-length success under Oisin Murphy, with the William Haggas-trained Dubai Honour and $3.2 favourite Stellenbosch filling the places.

“It’s very special,” Murphy said. “This morning, when I was lying in bed and not able to sleep because of the jet lag, I was starting to think ‘oh god, this horse could win’.

“I stopped myself dreaming about that because I didn’t want to get into that frame of mind, but he did it well and it really was an amazing feeling in the last furlong because he was powering clear.”

Settled midfield on the rail by the Irish jockey, Giavellotto tracked a relatively sedate pace set by Japanese raider Pradaria – they covered the first 2,000m around eight lengths slower the standard time – and travelled powerfully turning for home.

While Murphy was momentarily forced to wait before making his move aboard the Marco Botti-trained five-year-old, his willing partner exploded in the final 300m to take the lead and surge clear in the closing stages.

Murphy, who was making his first appearance at HKIR in five years, was delighted to celebrate his maiden success at Sha Tin’s marquee meeting at the 10th time of asking.

“I had a lot of confidence, particularly when he was so calm at the start. He didn’t get wound up,” Murphy said. “He jumped well, landed in a good position and I never had to touch his mouth all the way down the back because he was in such a good space.

“Turning into the straight I had to wait, and sometimes when that happens you’re worried that the race is going to go away from them. But it probably helped just to fill him up a little bit and when I did get some racing room he was explosive.”

Punters backed Giavellotto from $18 into $12 in the final two minutes of betting and Botti – celebrating his first top-level success since 2017 – said the dominant victory didn’t come as too much of a surprise.

“Being at these kind of meetings doesn’t happen very often so to come away with a winner is a dream come true,” Botti said.

“I was happy with him in the preliminaries and he was handling everything so well. Massive credit to the team because they said he never felt as good as today.

“I had a bit of panic when he got a bit checked for a few strides. But once he had a clear run, he was running strongly to the line and we know he stays well.”

Stellenbosch loomed up ominously and hit the front momentarily 300m from home but failed to see out the 2,400m trip under Joao Moreira.

“She was fantastic,” Moreira said. “She was a bit unlucky as she had a bad gate and couldn’t get onto the fence. She is a proper horse and I am very proud of how she ran.”

Dubai Honour kept on well to finish second and complete the British quinella.