Globetrotting Spirit Dancer 'the best he's ever been' as he bids to provide Sir Alex Ferguson with more big-race glory in the Hong Kong Cup

Sir Alex Ferguson will attempt to land another major prize with globetrotting star Spirit Dancer, who is reported by trainer Richard Fahey to be in the form of his life before Sunday's Longines Hong Kong Cup.

Owned by the legendary football manager, Peter Done and Ged Mason, the seven-year-old will break from stall ten in the 1m2f Grade 1 for which he is 20-1, with Hong Kong superstar Romantic Warrior a warm 4-9 favourite to win the race for a historic third time.

However, wide draws did not stop Spirit Dancer from becoming the first dual winner of the Bahrain International Trophy as he defied stall 11 for both successes, and he put in a particularly striking performance last month when wearing down Lead Artist before thundering a length and three-quarters clear under Oisin Orr.

Sir Alex Ferguson (right) and Ged Mason: the co-owners of Spirit Dancer are bidding for more success in Hong KongCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

"I genuinely thought his last run was the best of his life," said Fahey. "He looked like winning really well three out and I think it's a fair assessment to say the eventual second got first run on him, so he did well to run him down.

"He finished off very well in a race which was run four and a half seconds faster than last year on the same ground. I just thought it was a huge performance."

Spirit Dancer has clocked up plenty of miles this year having finished fourth in the Group 1 Jebel Hatta at Meydan in January before landing the Group 2 Neom Turf Cup at Riyadh the following month. 

He suffered a setback after finishing down the field in the Sheema Classic in March and didn't see the track again until October, but connections feel he's at the peak of his health and can give his enthusiastic owners another big thrill on the international stage at Sha Tin on Sunday.

"John Murphy rides him out and he said he's the best he's ever been," said Fahey. "He stumbled coming out of the gates in Dubai and came back quite sore. We x-rayed him and we were a bit shocked to see the extent of the damage. Everything has been fine since and he hasn't took a lame step.

"Sir Alex, Ged and Peter are all extremely engaged as owners. When you're away on these trips you have time to sit down and have a chat, and it's amazing how you can compare football and racing. The horses are athletes, and Sir Alex can appreciate that."

Giavelletto works under Oisin Orr at Sha Tin on ThursdayCredit: Hong Kong Jockey Club

Giavellotto spearheads a formidable European challenge in the Group 1 Longines Hong Kong Vase over 1m4f as the three-time Group 2 winner bids for a maiden top-level success for Marco Botti.

Aidan O'Brien is set to saddle Luxembourg and Continuous as he bids to win the race for a fourth time, while three-time Group 1 winner Dubai Honour is also in the line up for William Haggas.

Giavellotto was last seen finishing third to Kyprios in the Irish St Leger in September, and Botti is confident he can put up a good show if reproducing his previous efforts on an international stage, which include a fifth-placed finish in the Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan in March.

Giavellotto (right): last seen finishing third to Kyprios in the Irish St LegerCredit: Patrick McCann

Botti said: "Things didn’t quite go to plan in Ireland, it was quite a slowly run race and it didn’t suit him. After the race, I spoke to Oisin Murphy and he was adamant we should go to Hong Kong because they tend to go quicker and he wants fast ground. 

"We dropped him back to a mile and a half at Newmarket this year and he travelled strongly through the race and won nicely. I know the mile and a half at Sha Tin is a different track, but that’s where the idea came from. 

"He’s in good form. He’s had time to freshen up since the Curragh. He’s a good traveller and he likes to be on the plane. He has always run well abroad and that gives us confidence. He’s a strong, fully mature horse and he’s definitely got quicker this year; therefore we want to take our chance over a mile and a half."

Longines Hong Kong Vase (6.10am Sha Tin, Sunday)
William Hill: 4 Stellenbosch, Without A Fight, 6 Luxembourg, 7 Giavellotto,  12 Iresine, 14 Marquisat, Pradaria. 25 bar.

Longines Hong Kong Cup (8.40am Sha Tin, Sunday)
bet365: 4-9 Romantic Warrior, 5 Liberty Island, 10 Tastiera, 12 Wingspan, 16 Content, 20 Spirit Dancer, 25 bar.

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