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Atzeni lights up the Valley as blazing run continues

Andrea Atzeni described his decision to move to Hong Kong as “life changing” in the summer of 2023 and, nearly two years on, that decision is paying off in spades.

The 34-year-old fell two short of a half century in his first season but that target is well within reach this year after he continued his blazing run with a treble aboard Giant Leap, Crimson Flash and A Americ Te Specso at Happy Valley on Wednesday.

Atzeni doesn’t dine on a regular supply of hot favourites – his Valley winners went off at 20-1, 7-1 and 20-1 – and he summed up his current situation in typically level fashion by saying “it’s good going, we hit the ground running but I’ve had good support.”

And that support is reflected in the jockeys’ table, which sees the silky Sardinian in third place behind Zac Purton and Hugh Bowman with 43 winners worth a little over £6.4m in prize money.

Rising ready to rock again

Purton looks assured of an eighth championship after a Valley double took him to 92 for the season and the Aussie put the world’s best sprinter through his paces on Thursday morning when Ka Ying Rising eased through a barrier trial with typical precision.

The four-year-old eased clear of smart rivals headed by Derby winner My Wish in what trainer David Hayes described as “a perfect trial” and it’s hard to see what can stop him crowning a flawless campaign in next week’s Chairmans’ Sprint Prize.

The Hayes clan will be reunited on FWD Champions Day when crack Ausssie miler Mr Brightside – trained by David’s sons Ben, Will and JD – takes on local hero Voyage Bubble.

Purton will need to produce something special to beat that pair in the Champions Mile, but the mercurial Galaxy Patch caught the eye with a strong-finishing second in his trial and the Aussie is hoping the cheekpieces he wore will work the oracle next Sunday.

Award season in full swing

Getting the train out to Sha Tin is as good a way as any of shaking off jet lag and I’ll be boarding the MTR on Sunday with a mission to chat to Hayes about a huge week ahead and a short list of four races to pay close attention to.

The featured Hong Kong Lions Cup (8.40) should be run at a true gallop and that makes BUNDLE AWARD a key player as he bids to atone for his defeat in a Derby dawdle last month.

John Size’s gelding produced a rapid 22.04s final 400m split to finish seventh that day but being ridden from the rear in a slowly-run race meant he wasn’t seen to best advantage.

His previous success in a Class 3 race run at a more generous pace – which saw him quicken smartly to beat a useful field with a 22.11closer – marked him as a strong improver who’s well worth another chance with Purton aboard for the first time.

Gummy on a high

The journey back through the New Territories on Sunday evening will seem longer than usual if Purton doesn’t have a decent day as he looks to have solid chances in most of the best races on the card.

Don’t get me wrong, the two valuable AW sprints look wide open and the Kowloon Bay Handicap at 9.10 – in which Zac rides Bottomuptogether – is probably best watched given that several key players have never raced on dirt.

But GUMMY GUMMY looks a fair win and place option as he bangs heads with a handful of familiar foes in the Siu Ma Shan Handicap at 9.40.

Benno Yung’s gelding finished a good third behind the impressive Must Go and Dragon Air Force over course and distance last month, staying on well after missing the break slightly then being forced to wait for a run in the straight.

Smoother sailing and a 7lb pull with the winner will bring him firmly into the running for this £180,000 dash, while Purton has another clear chance in the 10.15 when the progressive Pakistan Legacy takes on the bang-in-form Triumphant More.

World in motion

But the third and final File selection this Sunday comes in the concluding Ho Chung River Handicap at 10.50.

Juneau Pride carries top weight in this intriguing nightcap after winning three of his last four, while SOUTH STAR moves up to Class 3 with a light weight after doing very well to win a race run at a fierce pace over course and distance three weeks ago.

Frankie Lor’s gelding looks well worth a saver with that man Atzeni in the irons again, but Gummy Gummy’s stablemate ANOTHER WORLD tops the short list despite a hefty hike for his latest success.

This smooth traveller has progressed from a mark of 52 to 73 in his first HK season, running well in a series of handicaps that have worked out strongly and quickening smartly on his latest start to leave a fair field well strung out.

True, the 9lb rise for that career best effort is a concern. But Another World still looks fairly treated and his ability to stalk and pounce could be decisive again as Purton bids to start a big week with a bang.

Sunday’s Sha Tin Selections

• 8.40: Bundle Award
• 9.40: Gummy Gummy (EW)
• 10.50: Another World/South Star

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