A notable surge in the Hong Kong jockey ranks has seen Andrea Atzeni ascend to a prominent third position in the 2024/25 rider standings. His exceptional form throughout March, highlighted by a string of ten victories from fifty-one mounts, has significantly boosted his win tally to thirty-six. This places him in pursuit of the leading figures, Zac Purton, who holds a commanding lead with eighty-seven wins, and Hugh Bowman, who has secured fifty-one. Beyond these top contenders, only Brenton Avdulla and Luke Ferraris have managed to surpass the thirty-win threshold, achieving thirty-four and thirty-three respectively, demonstrating the competitive nature of the racing circuit.
Having committed to a long-term presence in Hong Kong from the 2023/24 season onwards, Atzeni has swiftly acclimatized to the demanding conditions of the local racing scene. His previous experience in the city, albeit brief, during the 2014/15 season, where he claimed three wins, provided a valuable foundation for his current success. Now, he intends to capitalize on his recent upswing in performance by taking on seven rides at the upcoming Happy Valley event.
Among his scheduled rides, Crystal Powerful is set to participate in the Class 4 Japan Racing Association Trophy Handicap. This horse, trained by Cody Mo, recently achieved a victory in a lower class race. Atzeni acknowledges the increased challenge posed by the step up in competition, emphasizing the necessity of a smooth race. However, he remains cautiously optimistic, citing a favorable starting position and the horse’s assigned weight as potential advantages. Crystal Powerful, previously successful over longer distances, demonstrated versatility by winning over a shorter distance last month. Atzeni attributes this success to a beneficial starting position and the horse’s improved early speed.
Beyond Crystal Powerful, Atzeni’s upcoming engagements include rides on U S S Constitution, Senor Toba, Inno Century, Santorini, Mighty Commander, and Kaholo Angel. Following these local races, he is set to travel to Australia to partner with Al Mubhir in the G1 Doncaster Mile Handicap. He was asked to ride the horse by trainer William Haggas. Atzeni has ridden the horse previously, and feels the race is very open, and that the horse has a good chance with the weight it will be carrying.
Atzeni is one of several Hong Kong-based jockeys, including Zac Purton, Hugh Bowman, and Karis Teetan, who will be traveling to Sydney for racing commitments. Bowman, who also enjoyed a successful March, will be riding M Unicorn in an upcoming race. Bowman noted the horses last win, and also noted that the horse can be difficult at the start of races. Motoman is another horse to watch, being ridden by James Orman. Orman commented on the horses consistant placing, and the difficulty of the draw for the upcoming race.
