Fabre Forever: Sosie Delivers a Fourth Hong Kong Vase in His 80th Year

The son of Sea The Stars sparkled at Sha Tin, confirming an outstanding season under the guidance of the brilliant trainer

Sosie lands his fourth Group 1 of the season, this time in Hong Kong / HKJC

SHA TIN, Hong Kong (Special to Turf Diario).- There are figures who defy the passage of time, turning every victory into a reaffirmation of their legacy. André Fabre did just that on Sunday—remarkably, in the week of his 80th birthday—becoming the first trainer to win the Longines Hong Kong Vase (G1-2400m) four times, courtesy of a polished performance by Sosie, ridden with surgical precision by Maxime Guyon.

The son of Sea The Stars delivered with authority in a demanding test, defeating defending champion Giavellotto (Mastercraftsman) by three-quarters of a length. The pair renewed a rivalry first staged in October in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1), where Sosie had finished third and Marco Botti’s runner fourth—this time, the order was reversed at the top.

Élisabeth Fabre, a key pillar of the family operation, summed up a flawless execution and placed it in broader context: “Everything went perfectly. The race unfolded exactly as we had imagined. Maxime knows the horse very well, and Sosie trusted him completely when he asked for the effort,” she said.

“He’s a very good horse, with an outstanding mind and plenty of natural energy. He’s also magnificent to watch, and he’ll stay in training next year.”

Breaking from gate eight, Guyon kept Sosie ideally positioned throughout, sitting off the rail and stalking as Eydon (Olden Times) set the early fractions. On the backstretch, Urban Chic (Suave Richard), with Christophe Lemaire, tried to inject pace. Turning for home, Guyon opted for the safer outside path, capitalizing on the leader’s fade, while Christophe Soumillon threaded the rail aboard Goliath, who responded gamely to finish third.

“Everything felt very smooth,” Guyon explained. “I followed Los Angeles for much of the race, but he began to give way entering the straight. Sosie sustains his run like very few—he’s extremely hard to pass. He has a fantastic temperament and is very easy to place in a race.”

Guyon, who previously captured this Vase with Flintshire (Dansili, 2014) and Junko (Intello, 2023), capped a season of rare versatility for Sosie, who also landed the Prix Ganay (G1-2100m) and the Prix d’Ispahan (G1-1850m) earlier in the year.

“It’s his fourth Group 1, and he’s won this season over 1850, 2100 and now 2400 meters. He’s an incredible horse,” Guyon added, also praising Sosie’s seamless adaptation to the intercontinental trip.

On the other side, Marco Botti was gracious in defeat: “We knew the pace wouldn’t be strong. Andrea said the winner had the first move, and it took a big effort to get to him. The winner is a proper horse—two very good horses ran a fine race.”

Further back, Goliath, fresh off his Grosser Preis von Baden (G1) success, delivered his best effort of the year, while Al Riffa (Dubawi) and Los Angeles underscored the international depth and quality of a truly elite field.