The big ones at Sha Tin kicked off on International Day with the Group I HK International Vase (2400m) for the stayers and in a year when the French have been on fire all around the world it was French trained Sea the Stars stallion Sosie that took the prize.
Trained by 80 year-old legend Andre Fabre and ridden by Maxime Guyon, Sosie went to the post as favourite having had a sensational year with a pair of G1 victories in France back in April and May and a last start third to Daryz in the Group I Arc de Triomphe.
He showed his class when scoring by three-quarters of a length over Giavelotto, who won this race last year ahead of the Resolute Racing owned and French trained runner Goliath with Australian Bloodstock owned Al Riffa a close fourth.
A homebred for the Wertheimer & Frere, Sosie has the overall record of seven wins from 13 starts and is now a four time Group I winner and Maxime Guyon has ridden him in all of those wins!
Sosie is a half-brother to Group III winner Uther and stakes-winners Copie and Anasia being the best of five winners from stakes-placed Sosia, a half-sister by Shamardal to Group I winner Sortilege from a family that bristles with Champion German stayers including Samum, Schiaparelli, Salve Regina and Sea the Moon.
