Opening at Sha Tin this weekend carries a familiar sense of momentum, with leading riders once again at the centre of attention as the season edges towards its closing stretch. Among them, Andrea Atzeni is set to shoulder a heavy workload on Sunday’s 17 May fixture, taking 10 rides as he continues a sustained push toward a career-best campaign in Hong Kong.
With the Italian already past the milestone of 100 Sha Tin victories earlier this month, his current tally of 54 wins this season places him third in the jockeys’ standings, behind Hugh Bowman on 56 and runaway leader Zac Purton on 114. A return to peak seasonal form is firmly within reach, with Atzeni operating at a steady strike rate and showing consistency across recent meetings.
The 35-year-old’s strongest Hong Kong season to date came last year, when he recorded 58 wins. With five victories already added in May, the trajectory suggests that benchmark could soon be under threat if the momentum continues through the final phase of the campaign.
One of Atzeni’s key rides on the 11-race programme is the John Size-trained Endeared, who will contest the Class 3 Siu Ma Shan Handicap over 1400 metres. The gelding arrives in encouraging form and is expected to be competitive once again, particularly over a trip where his record remains most convincing.
“He’s a very consistent horse; he never really runs a bad race. He does everything right,” Atzeni noted, reflecting on the gelding’s reliable profile. “If he keeps his form, he’s definitely there with a chance on Sunday.”
Endeared, carrying 131lb, returns after a 15-day break following a solid third-place effort on the dirt over 1650 metres earlier this month. However, his four career victories have all come over this Sha Tin 1400m turf configuration, reinforcing the sense that this assignment plays to his strengths.
“His best form is over 1400 metres,” Atzeni added. “We don’t know what the track conditions are going to be on Sunday, but he’s by Dark Angel out of a Frankel mare, so I don’t think the slower ground is going to be an issue.”
Consistency remains a hallmark of the John Size yard, a factor Atzeni also highlighted when assessing his partnership with the stable. The combination has long been a reliable one across seasons at Sha Tin.
Elsewhere on the card, Harry Bentley continues his own strong season, having already surpassed last year’s win tally. One of his standout performances came aboard Proud Box, who delivered a dominant three-length maiden success after eight attempts, showcasing a powerful finishing burst in front-running fashion.
The Chris So-trained runner now steps up in weight to 129lb for the Class 4 Lung Fu Shan Handicap over 1400 metres, reflecting the impact of that decisive victory.
“The handicapper hasn’t missed him, but I think it was probably earned after the way he won,” Bentley said. “He certainly let down for me once I asked. I was surprised how far ahead he was.”
Attention also turns to longer-term prospects within the stable ranks, with Frankie Lor overseeing trackwork for Numbers ahead of a potential bounce-back run in staying company. The four-year-old, who competed in a strong Group 1 contest over 2000 metres last month, is being aimed at stepping up to the extended distance of 2400 metres in the coming weeks.
“He looks okay,” Lor said. “Last start was quite a strong field, and he has improved.”
Sunday’s Sha Tin programme begins at 12.45pm with the Class 5 Buffalo Hill Handicap over 1800 metres, setting the stage for a full 11-race afternoon that features a blend of established performers and emerging talent across divisions.
Andrea Atzeni Sha Tin rides 17 May once again stands out as a defining storyline, with the Italian rider firmly in the spotlight as the season approaches its decisive stages.
For more stories, results, and updates from the world of horse racing, stay tuned to racebuzz
