No jockey in Hong Kong rode more winners in March than Andrea Atzeni, and the Italian ace is aiming to continue his sparkling form at Easter Monday’s Group 2 double-header at Sha Tin in preparation for FWD Champions Day on 26 April.
Atzeni’s 14 winners last month boosted his tally to 43 – third in the 2025/26 jockeys’ championship behind leader Zac Purton (91 wins) and Hugh Bowman (44) – with earnings of HK$67.90 million from 388 rides after 58 of the season’s 88 fixtures.
Atzeni will link with quality John Size duo, Red Lion and Stellar Express, in the HK$5.35 million G2 Chairman’s Trophy (1600m) and HK$5.35 million G2 Sprint Cup (1200m), respectively.
Red Lion is no stranger to reversing his form, and Atzeni hopes Hong Kong’s forecast of rain early next week assists the winner of the 2025 HK$24 million G1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m) as he aims to rebound following consecutive ninth placings.
Atzeni said: “It seems like he’s the type of horse who comes good at this time of the year, and also like he enjoys a bit of juice in the ground. I don’t know what it’s going to be like at this meeting coming up, but if there is rain, he enjoys getting his toe in.”
Red Lion shocked Voyage Bubble at odds of 89/1 in last year’s FWD Champions Mile, one of six career wins in Hong Kong for the Belardo gelding, who is raced by The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s former Chairman Ronald Arculli and his wife Johanna.
Atzeni, 35, is yet to ride Red Lion in a race but has trialled the Irish import twice since his last run, most recently on 26 March over 1200m on the dirt, finishing second to Romantic Warrior by one length after attempting to lead throughout in 1m 10.85s.
“I thought he trialled well. He jumped quickly and we kept it simple – John just wanted me to give him a good stretch out, and he kept responding all the way to the line. I know Romantic Warrior went past me quite easily, but it seems like he’s coming back to form,” Atzeni said. “He is a high-class horse, and we were pleased with the trial.”
Atzeni hails from the Mediterranean island of Sardinia. He’s won big races across the globe – success which came after an initial move to Milan, Italy, to work for Alduino Botti. He later based himself in Newmarket, Great Britain, aligned with Botti’s son Marco, which preceded his highly successful association with trainer Roger Varian.
A five-time 1000m winner at Sha Tin, Stellar Express also races for prominent connections. Larry Yung, whose purple and gold colours have saluted twice in the Hong Kong Derby with Oriental Express (1997) and Olympic Express (2002), owns the bay.
Atzeni said: “He’s flying. If there was a Group 1 over 1000 metres here, he’d be very hard to beat, of course, unless Ka Ying Rising drops back to 1000. But he has no other races, so he has to run over 1200. He’s an improving horse – hopefully, he can run well.”
Zoustar gelding Stellar Express has sharply improved this term, winning the HK$4.2 million G3 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy Handicap (1000m), although he faces the giant task of trying to stop Ka Ying Rising from securing a 19th consecutive win, in the Sprint Cup.
Yung’s son Andy races Helios Express, who also features in the Sprint Cup against Ka Ying Rising, Raging Blizzard, Tomodachi Kokoroe, Beauty Waves and Lucky With You.
Dual Group 2 triumphant Galaxy Patch returns in Monday’s Chairman’s Trophy after finishing fourth behind Ka Ying Rising in February’s HK$13 million G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) under Karis Teetan for trainer Pierre Ng.
Teetan said: “The horse has pulled up well after his last run. I’m very happy with the way he’s progressing. He’s in good shape, and it’s going to be a good race – his last run behind Ka Ying Rising was very good. He finished off strongly and it was a great run for him, and I think over a mile, he’s going to be more competitive.”
Voyage Bubble, Lucky Sweynesse, Beauty Joy, Fast Network, Cap Ferrat, My Wish, Rubylot, Sunlight Power, Chancheng Glory, Patch Of Theta, Storm Rider and Stunning Peach are also among the Chairman’s Trophy entries. – Hong Kong Jockey Club
Race-by-Race Previews
Race 1: Almighty Lightning has trialled well since his impressive debut win, and the franked form of that race further boosts his chances of securing a double. Graceful Heart ran on well in a recent trial and looks ready to produce a forward showing on debut. Mega Captain has shown ability in trials and looks one to watch closely. Zouper Fellow possesses tactical speed and is well weighted to be in the mix. Enjoy Golf showed improvement last start and his solid record over this track and distance makes him hard to overlook.
Race 2: Majestic Delight has drawn well to repeat the dose after an impressive last-start win in this class. Always Fluke has acquitted himself well in Class 4 and looks ready to run a big race on his return to Class 5. King Alloy with Nichola Yuen’s 10lb claim, he could be hard to run down if allowed a soft lead. Iconical faces a more manageable field on his Class 5 debut and shapes as a strong contender from a good draw. View All Things has mixed his form due to a roaring issue but is worth considering if the odds represent value.
Race 3: Lucky Year charged home strongly for sixth in a race with franked form last start and looks one to follow. Mr Cool stormed home for a close third despite a wide trip last start, and with a smoother run, he could make amends. Smiling Falcon should map closer to the speed from an inside draw and could cause an upset. Smart Fat Cat with a more conservative racing style, he will need a genuine tempo to unleash a strong finish. Multisuperstar let down well from a wide draw last start and a better gate should spark further improvement.
Race 4: Lucky Ranger defied a wide draw to break through in fine style last start, and the runner-up has since scored a double, including an impressive Class 3 win. Gallant Epoch looks poised to deliver a strong on-pace showing with a 10lb apprentice aboard. California Bay has been knocking on the door and the booking of Purton appears a positive. Robot Star has been in consistent form of late and a Top 3 finish wouldn’t surprise. Lucky Man looks capable of sneaking into the placings at long odds from an inside draw and should not be ruled out.
Race 5: Mr Incredible showed a strong turn of foot to score an impressive debut win and looks primed to go back-to-back in Class 4. Thousand Spirit an awkward jump blunted his chances last start, and with a clean getaway, he could finish in the money. Riding High raced on the speed to finish a solid fourth last start, and from a low gate, he will give them something to chase. Come Fast Fay Fay his recent efforts have been encouraging and he looks well weighted to make an impact. Call Me Success closed off strongly for third last time out and has since trialled well.
Race 6: Fast Responder went close last start, and with Nichola Yuen aboard, he looks ideally weighted to make amends. Glowing Praises has performed well at both starts over this track and distance and shapes as a leading contender with Purton jumping aboard. Looking Bright capable but unpredictable, he could cause an upset on his day. Alpha Strike showed improvement dropping back to this distance last start but looks more of a place chance. Whizz Kid has dropped in the ratings and could place at long odds if things fall his way.
Race 7: Ka Ying Rising the world’s best sprinter looks primed to extend his winning streak to 19 given the favourable conditions and can prove extremely hard to beat. Helios Express has finished second to Ka Ying Rising in his last two starts and looks the second-best again here. Tomodachi Kokoroe may lack the top-level class but a place-finish wouldn’t surprise in this field. Raging Blizzard will need a genuine tempo to unleash a strong finish and may sneak into the placings. Stellar Express is most likely to be first into the straight, but the final 400m could be testing.
Race 8: The Red Hare ran on well to place third in a slowly run race last start, and with Purton staying aboard, he looks poised to make amends. Mighty Masts narrowly missed last start from a wide draw and should play a key role, though facing another awkward gate. Harold Win well placed with the apprentice claim, he should map well from pole position and be highly competitive. Packing Glory has been in consistent form of late and appears to be a lightweight chance. Lucy In The Sky held up at a crucial stage last start and could cause an upset with better luck in running.
Race 9: Fast Network has been in career-best form and looks ready to secure his second Group victory with Purton staying aboard, despite the wide draw. My Wish a proven performer at this level, he shapes as a genuine chance with Bowman aboard. Voyage Bubble suited by the drop to 1600m, where he is a seven-time winner, and the inside draw ticks another box. Lucky Sweynesse has regained his form this season but the wide draw could prove tricky. Galaxy Patch if the conditions suit, he will make his presence felt late and could cause an upset, as he has done before.
Race 10: Winning Ovation remains unbeaten this preparation, including a tenacious win on his Class 2 debut last start, and looks primed for a fourth straight win. Akashvani highly suited by the drop back in distance and looks well weighted to make an impact with Purton aboard. Drombeg Banner a natural frontrunner, he could hang in there all day under the right race shape and the booking of a 10lb claimer piques interest. Six Pack narrowly beaten last start and has drawn well to go one better. Johannes Brahms resuming off a break, he could sprint well fresh first-up and place at long odds.
Race 11: Smart Avenue looks overdue for a win after two consecutive seconds and shapes as a leading contender. Karma possesses a strong turn of foot but will need the pace to suit, as he usually settles far off the speed. The Auspicious showed little in a slowly run race last start but looks capable of causing an upset under more favourable conditions. Money Catcher this old-timer has regained his form this season and commands respect. Liveandletlive a dangerous frontrunner, he could be hard to peg back if allowed an uncontested lead. - iRACE Magazine