Latest news with #HongKongChinaRugbyCup
South China Morning Post
28-04-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Colourful King ‘getting better' as Andrea Atzeni aims for a big night at Happy Valley
Andrea Atzeni is hoping to be the hat-trick hero at Happy Valley on Wednesday night when Colourful King and Crystal Powerful both go for three wins on the spin. Sardinian Atzeni, sitting third in the jockeys rankings with 45 winners for the season, has another strong book of in-form rides to enhance his tally. Colourful King is his mount in the feature Class Two Seoul Handicap (1,000m), winner of both his starts at Happy Valley since a promising Hong Kong debut at Sha Tin. He dived late to beat Youthful Spirit by a nose in a Class Three over 1,000m in March, but increased the margin by two lengths when flashing clear of him again in another course and distance Class Three. Big win, Colourful King! 🚀@EustaceRacing's talented sprinter explodes to consecutive victories under @Atzenijockey in the Hong Kong China Rugby Cup at Happy Valley... 🏆#HappyWednesday | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) April 9, 2025 His sights are raised today against some seasoned rivals, but David Eustace's charge – a dual winner at Sandown in Australia before shipping over – is totally unexposed and should have plenty more to offer. 'He's thrived since David [Eustace] switched him to the Valley,' said Atzeni. 'I thought he was really impressive again last time and he's definitely improved since his last run. 'He's going up into a Class Two and will need to improve, but he's a horse who has done nothing wrong and seems to be getting better.' Atzeni also rides Crystal Powerful, who is on the hat-trick trail in the Class Three Yeongcheon Handicap (1,200m) for trainer Cody Mo Wai-kit. Crystal Powerful won back-to-back races at the Valley last season and has repeated the feat this campaign. He showed a very willing attitude to edge out Diamond Soars in a 1,000m Class Three in March, knuckling down after being outpaced at the top of the straight to win by a head. It was a similar story over course and distance three weeks later, with Atzeni all action to get his partner up by a short head. Crystal Powerful does it again! An in-form @Atzenijockey scores consecutive wins with Cody Mo's sprinter in the Japan Racing Association Trophy... 🔥 #HappyWednesday | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) April 2, 2025 Those runs have suggested a return to 1,200m – the trip he gained both his wins over last season – would be perfect and he gets that on Wednesday. He has the ideal draw in stall seven and Atzeni is hoping lightening can strike for a third time. 'I think dropping to 1,000m was a good shout, as he's been showing a lot more speed lately,' said Atzeni. 'I think the key for him has been the draw – he's a horse who needs to be handy and we've been lucky with our barriers lately. 'Obviously his two recent wins have come over 1,000m, but he this trip suits him just as well and we've got another good draw to work from. I don't think another rise in the weights will stop him from going close.' Atzeni has been enjoying another stellar season, with only Zac Purton (100) and Hugh Bowman (57) ahead of his 45-win haul. The 34-year-old is just three winners away from last season's tally and after a slow start to the season, it goes to show just how well things have been going for Atzeni that he is so close already. 'Things couldn't have gone much better the last six to 10 weeks,' said Atzeni. 'We had a bit of a slow start, but it's great to finish strong and I'd love to get through the 50-winner mark and beyond. 'There's still plenty of racing left and I'm really grateful to all the support I'm getting. I'll just have to keep kicking and hopefully I can beat last season's tally at the very least.'
South China Morning Post
07-04-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Andrea Atzeni keen to keep the ball rolling with ‘nice book of rides' at Happy Valley
Sardinian jockey will look to add to his 38 winners for the campaign on Wednesday night He's one of the form jockeys among the Hong Kong riding ranks and Andrea Atzeni will head to Happy Valley on Wednesday night armed with a book of rides he hopes can help him continue his momentum. Third in the jockeys premiership after 12 wins in the past month, Atzeni will look to add to his 38 victories this season with seven rides at the midweek meeting. 'The last few weeks have gone fairly well and hopefully we can keep kicking until the end of the season,' said Atzeni. 'I've got some nice rides on Wednesday. I could have done with better draws with a couple of them but I feel like I'm going into Wednesday night with a nice book of rides.' Colourful King nails Youthful Spirits! 😱@EustaceRacing's son of Blue Point, a two-time winner at Sandown in Australia, gets off the mark in Hong Kong with @Atzenijockey at Happy Valley...#HappyWednesday | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 19, 2025 One of Atzeni's mounts who has drawn well is last-start winner Colourful King, who jumps from gate four in the Class Three Hong Kong China Rugby Cup (1,000m). Trained by David Eustace, who is fresh off a treble at Sha Tin on Sunday, Colourful King broke his Hong Kong maiden at start two when sticking his nose in front over this course and distance last month. 'He only just got up the last day and we beat Youthful Spirits, who goes in front. He is in the race again so at least we know for sure the speed is going to be on,' said Atzeni. 'He's an improving horse and a horse we've always liked, so hopefully there's more to come from him.' Atzeni retains the ride aboard the John Size-trained Golden Rise for the Class Three Ho Man Tin Handicap (1,200m) after partnering the five-year-old into third in his Class Three debut last start. 'He was a little bit unlucky the last day. I was on the fence but I went one off trying to keep my options open, but it was probably the wrong thing to do,' said Atzeni of Golden Rise, who carries 120 pounds on Wednesday night. 'If I had stayed on the fence he probably would have nearly won it. With that weight he should be competitive in Class Three. He wasn't beaten far last start and he showed that he can be competitive in the grade.' Also among Atzeni's book are last-start winner Same To You, who rises in grade for the third section of the Class Four King's Park Handicap (1,200m), and Club Ace in the second section of the King's Park Handicap. 'Same To You is a nice ride to get. He's a course and distance winner and although he's got a tricky draw, he won quite nicely the last day so hopefully up in class with a light weight shouldn't be an issue,' said Atzeni of Mark Newnham's charge, who carries 120 pounds from gate 12. 'Club Ace is solid. He was a little bit disappointing last start but on his previous starts he wouldn't be without a chance.'
