Tag Archive for: Andrea Atzeni

Atzeni keen to build on successful first stint in Hong Kong

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Andrea Atzeni is ready and raring to go for his second season in Hong Kong after making a winning return to Newmarket during his brief visit to the UK.

There is a two-month summer break in the Hong Kong calendar and after some well-earned down-time, the Sardinian was back in the town he once called home to tune-up for his impending return to the Far East.

It was somewhat fitting that 12 months on from waving goodbye to British racing with a victory aboard Lezoo in the Hopeful Stakes, he once more ventured into the July course winner’s enclosure during his two-day busman’s holiday.

However, the victory was not enough to convince Atzeni to extend his UK stay, having no regrets about his decision to pack his bags for pastures new, and determined to build on a successful first year in Hong Kong, which saw him ride 48 winners and finish fourth in the jockeys’ championship.

Andrea Atzeni was a winner during his brief UK visit
Andrea Atzeni was a winner during his brief UK visit (Adam Morgan/PA)

“It’s a yearly contract and I’ll try to stay in Hong Kong as long as I can, but England has been home to me for 17 years, so it is always nice to come back here,” said Atzeni after guiding Richard Spencer’s Run Boy Run to victory.

“I’ve really enjoyed Hong Kong. I didn’t really know what to expect because it was new to me and it’s a different way of life.

“It definitely improves you tactically as a jockey, as you need to be very tactically aware, and the club is brilliant and the prize-money is unbelievable. It’s a no-brainer for any jockey at any stage of their career to up sticks to Hong Kong.

“I managed to adapt to it and I had to – if I wanted to stay there for a long time, I had to adapt to their style of racing as quick as I could and try to get some results quickly, and it worked out quite nicely.

“Although I have been there for a full season, time went quite quickly, like anything does when things are going well and you are enjoying it.”

Andrea Atzeni has enjoyed his first season in Hong Kong
Andrea Atzeni enjoyed his first season in Hong Kong (Tim Goode/PA)

On paper, going from the daily grind of the British fixture list to the twice-weekly Hong Kong schedule may sound like a breeze to the untrained eye.

But Atzeni explained there is plenty of unseen work behind the scenes that has to take place during a relentless 10-month period where the competitive and high-value nature of the action demands full attention.

“In Hong Kong, we race for 10 months, it is very full on – it is very competitive and very intense,” continued Atzeni

“You do need a bit of a break, as you don’t get any breaks during the season, you race every week. You get five days off during Royal Ascot but other than that, it is full on and it is nice that the Hong Kong Jockey Club allows us a summer break.

“When I arrived in Hong Kong, I didn’t know what to expect, it was all new to me and it was a different style of racing to what I was used to. Everything was different but luckily I adapted quite quickly and I was very lucky to have a good season.

“There’s a lot of work behind the scenes which people don’t really know, as although we only race two days a week, a lot goes on behind the scenes.

“We don’t have agents, so you have to book your own rides and do your own handicaps and try to choose the right horses. It’s very competitive and there is never a lot between the horses, so it is not easy, but I think I’m getting used to it.

“It will only help me, as I have a lot more knowledge now than I did when I first went over there and hopefully it will be another good season.”



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Williams eyeing international options for Hopeful hero Quinault

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Quinault could be set for international competition after notching a second successive Listed win in the Jenningsbet Hopeful Stakes at Newmarket.

Stuart Williams’ four-year-old has now won nine times in his 18-race career and having excelled last season is finally finding his feet this term, showing his toughness to follow up his Queensferry Stakes victory earlier this month.

He could step up to both seven furlongs and Group Two level at Doncaster next month after striking at odds of 100-30 in the hands of Marco Ghiani, but his handler is tempted to take the son of Oasis Dream overseas.

“He’s amazing and I don’t think he liked the ground out there, he’s just tough and tries very hard,” said Williams.

“He’s a legend, an absolute star. He’s won here before and he’s won on the Rowley Mile as well but I don’t think it makes any difference. He’s won round Chester and he’s won on the all-weather and even at Brighton one day.”

On future plans, Williams added: “I’ve put him in the Park Stakes at Doncaster but whether we go there or not, I don’t know, I’ll speak to the owner.

“I would love to travel this horse as he is so laid back and I’m sure he would do well in that scenario. He goes well on any ground and seven furlongs on a turning track would be right up his street.”

Brian looked a cut above when scorching clear of the opposition to win the £100,000 Tattersalls Somerville Auction Stakes.

Third to Bedtime Story in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot, Sylvester Kirk’s 11-4 chance has some smart form to his name and came home four and a quarter lengths clear of 15-8 favourite Li Ban to tee-up a trip to France later in the autumn.

Brian slammed his rivals at Newmarket
Brian slammed his rivals at Newmarket (Adam Morgan/PA)

Kirk said: “It’s a nice payday and it’s good to have a race like that for a cheap horse, he’s done it well.

“His form was probably the best of them and he loved the ground, so it was all very good. It was good to soft when he won at Newbury but I felt it was closer to good ground and he’s not very big, so you just worried because they are not finishing very quickly out there today and he’s not so big.

“He ran well in the Listed race (Pat Eddery Stakes, at Ascot) and third in the Chesham, albeit Aidan O’Brien’s won 10 lengths. But the rest of his form is good and he was second to Cool Hoof Luke on his second start at Chelmsford, so he’s been beaten a neck by a Gimcrack winner.

“Maybe we will step him into a black-type race in France, the owners are mad-keen to go out there because he’s a fun horse. He didn’t cost a lot and he’s gone above expectations.

“He’s not in the other sales race and it would have been nice to have him in, but we will have a look through the races in France and the ground might now actually suit him out there. He’s 93-rated and that’s probably where he is, he might be a few pounds better, but it’s exciting.”

Andrea Atzeni was a winner during his brief UK visit
Andrea Atzeni was a winner during his brief UK visit (Adam Morgan/PA)

Tom Clover’s Invictus Gold built on his maiden success at Southwell to claim the scalp of the well-regarded Wathnan Racing-owned youngster Evening Saigon in the Jenningsbet British EBF Novice Stakes.

Meanwhile, there was a familiar face in the winner’s enclosure after the Bet With Jenningsbet Nationwide Handicap as Andrea Atzeni warmed up for his return to Hong Kong when partnering Richard Spencer’s Run Boy Run to victory.

Atzeni said: “It’s been great being back and I was really looking forward to coming back here for 10 days before my next stint in Hong Kong.

“I’ll be back in Hong Kong next Saturday and I will be straight back in the swing of it, so I was very keen to get the ball rolling before I went back, riding some work, training and lucky enough to get a few rides this weekend so it’s been brilliant.”



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Andrea Atzeni off the mark in Hong Kong

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Andrea Atzeni enjoyed the first win of his new Hong Kong venture when Mega Bonus landed a valuable Happy Valley handicap.

The Italian rider made the move to Hong Kong in search of further opportunities after the Ebor meeting at York, gaining an initial six-month licence which will last until February 12.

After four rides the jockey registered the first win of this stint in a new jurisdiction as Mega Bonus, trained by Ricky Yiu, took the £120,000 Tao O Handicap by a length and a half.

Atzeni said: “I landed my first ever win in Hong Kong here at Happy Valley eight years ago, so it’s a nice feeling to be back, and to bang in a winner at only the second meeting of the season feels good.

“A massive thank you to Ricky, who has been very supportive from the minute I arrived.

“He’s been using me a lot in barrier trials and gallops, so it’s nice to get my first winner for him.”



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Lezoo gives Andrea Atzeni perfect send-off

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Andrea Atzeni enjoyed the perfect send-off ahead of his imminent move to Hong Kong as he steered Lezoo to Listed success in the JenningsBet Hopeful Stakes at Newmarket.

The Classic-winning rider is signing off after a 16-year stint in the UK, having decided to switch to the Far East for an initial six-month period.

Ahead of the new season at Sha Tin kicking off on September 10, Atzeni made one final visit to the July Course for four rides, the last of which was Lezoo in the feature event of the afternoon.

Last season’s Cheveley Park Stakes heroine was the 7-4 favourite to complete an across-the-card treble on the day for trainer Ralph Beckett and part-owner Marc Chan following the earlier victories of Angel Bleu in the Celebration Mile at Goodwood and Kinross in the City of York Stakes on the Knavesmire.

Dropping in class after being well held in the 1000 Guineas and the Commonwealth Cup earlier this season, Lezoo showed her ability to beat the 2021 Sprint Cup winner Emaraaty Ana by a neck.

Atzeni, who flies to Hong Kong on Sunday, said: “I half expected it (the win) and that’s why I’m not surprised, but when I picked up the ride on this filly I said to my agent ‘I’m happy to leave after that as otherwise I’m only going to get upset so I might as well leave on a high’.

“It is a big move, and it is hitting me more now, not so much in a shock way as I’m really excited and looking forward to it.

“It is a contract for six months, but it could be for six years.”

Of Lezoo, he added: “I thought she had a very good chance. She is obviously getting a bit of weight off the older horses. It looked like the perfect race on perfect ground.

“That big heavy shower we had made the ground very loose, which she probably didn’t appreciate as much as she would quick ground as she was wheel-spinning a little bit.

“She got the job done and it was great to get her head in front again.”

Tom Ward will step Woodhay Wonder back up in grade following her 14-1 success in the £100,000 Tattersalls Somerville Auction Stakes under PJ McDonald.

Third in the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes over the course and distance on her latest outing, the daughter of Tamayuz went a couple of places better with a half-length verdict over Geologist.

Ward said: “She was still quite green in that race (Duchess of Cambridge Stakes) and the small field didn’t quite suit her. Today has helped with the big field and with there being plenty of pace.

“She has always shown a lot at home, but she has never really been in a position where she has had a truly-run race and today was the first time you got a chance to see what she is really all about.

“She has got Group Two black type and I’m hoping she will win a Listed or a Group Three at some stage.

“The Dick Poole at Salisbury in two weeks, if it doesn’t come too soon, we could look at, but there are plenty of races at the end of the season for her.”



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Lezoo offers Atzeni chance to say goodbye in style

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Andrea Atzeni has a fantastic chance of signing off with a farewell winner when he links up with Group One scorer Lezoo at Newmarket on Saturday.

The Classic-winning jockey will put a halt on his 16-year riding career in the UK after the meeting on the July course ahead of an initial six-month switch to Hong Kong where the new season kicks off at Sha Tin on September 10.

The Italian was granted a part-season licence in the Far East which will last until February 12, and fresh from Group One glory aboard Vandeek in Deauville’s Prix Morny, he can say goodbye in style having picked up the spare ride aboard last year’s Cheveley Park Stakes heroine as his final mount.

The Zoustar filly was last seen finishing down the field in the Commonwealth Cup, but has won four of her seven career starts and connections are delighted to have Atzeni aboard as the three-year-old attempts to bounce back to her very best in the Jenningsbet Hopeful Stakes over a course and distance she has previously thrived.

“Andrea is a great guy and the way he’s ridden over the last couple of months is as well as he’s ever ridden. We’re very happy to have him riding on Saturday,” said Jamie McCalmont, racing manager for Marc Chan, who owns Lezoo together with Andrew Rosen.

“It’s an exciting day Saturday. There’s a couple of days we’ve wanted to run her but we didn’t want to run her back on soft ground again, we’ve just been waiting for the ground really.

“This is a good stepping stone back, she loves the course, we get her ground and she’s fine over the distance, so fingers crossed.”



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Alflaila swoops late for triumphant York return

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Alflaila made a triumphant return to action with an impressive display in the Sky Bet York Stakes.

The Owen Burrows-trained four-year-old won a Listed race at Pontefract and successive Group Threes to round off last season, including a verdict at York in the Strensall Stakes.

A subsequent injury suffered when being readied to run in Bahrain delayed his reappearance, but he proved his talent remains very much intact with a smart performance on the Knavesmire.

A small but select field of five went to post for the Group Two contest, with My Prospero the even-money favourite to make the most of a slight ease in class after finishing fourth in the Lockinge at Newbury and the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot on his first two starts of the season.

But after responding to Tom Marquand’s urgings to grab the lead late on, he was unable to resist the challenge of Alflaila, who had been biding his time in behind under Andrea Atzeni and swept by in the closing stages to prevail by half a length.

Royal Champion was only a length further behind in third, with Checkandchallenge fourth and Mashhoor last of five after cutting out the early running.

Alflaila’s success was the first leg of a huge double on the day for Burrows and owners Shadwell, with Hukum later triumphing in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.

It was a day to remember for trainer Owen Burrows
It was a day to remember for trainer Owen Burrows (John Walton/PA)

“I’ll be honest, I only watched Alflaila on my phone as I was saddling Hukum at the time, but I’m obviously delighted,” said the trainer.

“Andrea said they went slowly early on and he did well to pick up as well he did. It was a good performance, coming off such a lay-off after an injury. It’s been a huge team effort.

“We felt he was on the upward curve last year and it was a shame what happened in Bahrain and we’re now having to start off his season at the end of July, but there’s plenty of nice races left, so hopefully he’ll be fine in the morning and we can make a bit of a plan then.

“He’s in the Juddmonte International back at York (August 23) and we’ll have a chat with Angus (Gold) and Richard (Hills) and Sheikha Hissa (of Shadwell). They obviously have the favourite for the race anyway in Mostahdaf, so we’ll enjoy today and look to the future once we know he’s all right.”



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Pat Cosgrave leaves UK for new career in Saudi Arabia

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Pat Cosgrave has left the UK to embark on a new challenge and will now call Saudi Arabia home as he continues his riding career oversees.

The 41-year-old, who was champion apprentice in Ireland in 2003, has won  Group One contests in Germany, Australia and the UK and has ridden over 100 winners for trainers Jim Boyle, William Haggas and George Baker in his career.

He is also no stranger to success further afield and liked up with Saeed bin Suroor to win the UAE 1000 Guineas in 2020 and was also aboard the Godolphin handler’s Gifts Of Gold on Saudi Cup Night in 2021 when the duo landed the valuable Red Sea Turf Handicap.

Cosgrave has now been handed the chance to become retained rider for 2022 Saudi Cup-winning owner Prince Saud Bin Salman Abdulaziz’s, an opportunity he has jumped at.

He said: “I’d only been back from Dubai (back in March) for a couple of weeks and was approached by Prince Saud Bin Salman Abdulaziz’s team about the opportunity.

“I knew how successful their operation was over there, particularly given they won the Saudi Cup back in 2022 with Emblem Road, but it was a tricky time to make a decision as racing was just getting going again in the UK.

“I thought about it for a little while and decided it was a good thing to do. The racing, as well as other sports in Saudi, seem to be getting bigger and better every year and it’s an exciting time to be getting involved.”

Cosgrave hit the headlines earlier in the year when he received a 28-day ban for easing up on 1-6 favourite Concorde in the final stages of a mile handicap at Chelmsford.

He added: “I have been going along OK in the UK. There were a couple of silly incidents that put me on the sidelines for a bit, but overall I was doing well, winning some decent handicaps and operating at a good strike rate.

“I was riding winners for the likes of George Boughey, Richard Hughes, George Baker and Jim Boyle, so things were going OK, and they were looking after me well, but it feels like the racing in Saudi is really progressing and I think it’s a great opportunity to take.”

Cosgrave is not the only member of the weighing room on the move, with Andrea Atzeni having been granted a part-season licence by the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

Atzeni’s licence in the far east runs from July 17 until February 12 next year and he is expected to be in Hong Kong for the start of the new season at Sha Tin on September 10.

The Classic winning rider said on his twitter account: “Looking forward to my new challenge!”



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Atzeni steers Angers to German Guineas gold

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Andrea Atzeni partnered Angers to an impressive victory in the Mehl-Mulhens-Rennen at Cologne on Monday.

Atzeni, who now rides as a freelance, teamed up with Mario Baratti, who is based in France, to win the German equivalent of the 2000 Guineas and deny Charlie Johnston and Ioritz Mendizabal with Finn’s Charm in second.

Angers had only won one of his six starts in France, and was third to Jean-Claude Rouget’s French Guineas fifth Valimi on his most recent outing.

Finn’s Charm attempted to make all under Mendizabal, with Roger Varian’s previously unbeaten Dragon Icon and Benacre, a stablemate of Finn’s Charm, within touching distance.

The leader briefly looked to have slipped the field before Atzeni brough Angers with a powerful run down the outside and he went on to win by six lengths.

Finn’s Charm was second in the German Guineas
Finn’s Charm was second in the German Guineas (Steve Welsh/PA)

Dhangadhi was third, just ahead of Benacre and Dragon Icon.

“He’s a lovely, big horse and ran very well in France the last day,” Atzeni told Wettstar.

“He gave me a nice feel going down to the start and his trainer Mario Baratti has done a great job to keep him spot on for this race, as it’s never easy to travel a horse to a different country.

“He looked the best horse in the paddock and he was by far the best horse in the race.”



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Giavellotto crowned in Yorkshire Cup for Botti and Atzeni

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Giavellotto turned the tables on his St Leger conqueror Eldar Eldarov to secure top honours in the Boodles Yorkshire Cup.

The Roger Varian-trained Eldar Eldarov was the Classic hero at Doncaster, a race in which Marco Botti’s Giavellotto passed the post in fourth but was later promoted to third after suffering interference.

In a twist on the Knavesmire, Giavellotto was the one causing interference, but following a stewards’ inquiry the placings remained unaltered in the one-mile-six-furlong feature.

Ninth behind the reopposing Broome in the Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan in March, the 14-1 chance quickened up smartly to grab the lead under Andrea Atzeni, but hung left under pressure, impeding both the long-time leader Quickthorn and Broome on the far side of the track.

In the meantime Eldar Eldarov, making his first appearance since the autumn, was building up a head of steam closer to stands rail and charged home to beaten just half a length, with Broome only a further length behind in third.

Botti said: “He came across a little bit in the last furlong, he didn’t interfere with the runner-up but Andrea said he was just idling a little bit once he hit the front. Last year he ran a huge race in the St Leger, he didn’t have much luck in Dubai with the wide draw, but we’ve always thought he was a very good stayer.

“He’s still very lightly raced. It was a good field with the St Leger winner and Broome in there, but I thought we would be here with a chance. I put a line through the race in Dubai, he was drawn in stall 15 and it just didn’t go to plan but we were confident he would run a good race.”

He added: “It’s very important, it’s been a couple of quiet years so to have a horse of this calibre is great. It’s great for the staff at home and for the owner, who bred the horse.”

Giavellotto after winning at York (
Giavellotto after winning at York (Molly Hunter/PA)

Varian, meanwhile, was as happy with Eldar Eldarov as Botti was with the winner.

“He’s run like he’s the best horse in the race. He’s given the winner 5lb and he’s given Broome 2lb, it was a really good run,” he said.

“It was a very good run with a view to the Gold Cup. That was over a mile and six furlongs and we’ve always felt that he would get the Gold Cup distance.

“We put a line through his run at Ascot in October, which was his first try beyond this trip, but it was heavy ground that day, which he won’t run on again.

“Every time he’s run over this trip he has looked like he is only getting going at the line and that is why we think the Gold Cup will suit him, so we’ll look forward to that. He’s very versatile regarding ground. He goes on anything really, he won’t run on heavy ground again, (but) apart from that he’s pretty versatile.

“It was a good trial for the Gold Cup. It was a shame he didn’t win, but I don’t think he lost anything in defeat. At the weights he’s run like the winner really.”

Hughie Morrison at York
Hughie Morrison at York (Mike Egerton/PA)

Of Quickthorn, Hughie Morrison said: “The interference definitely cost us third, but it’s a funny rule we have. It leaves a bit of a sour taste because it costs you £30,000. He’s run well, though. The jockey (Oisin Murphy) said he jumped good, he felt well and he’s a damn good horse.

“I just think maybe two miles around here suits him better because then there is two bends.

“He’s run up to his best, probably, other than the freak race he won over two miles here last year (Lonsdale Cup).

“He won’t go to Ascot, the way we ride him we feel he doesn’t get two and a half miles so we’ll discuss where we go. A mile and six is his minimum.

“He could go for the race he won last year (Group Two Prix Maurice de Nieuil). He could even go jumping! Someone has to take on Constitution Hill!”



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