Andrea Atzeni hoping Bundle Award can complete historic 2,400m double in Champions & Chater Cup
Victorious under Zac Purton in the recent Queen Mother Memorial Cup, the John Size-trained Bundle Award will join forces with Atzeni after Purton opted to lock in the ride aboard stablemate Ensued for the final Group One of the Hong Kong season.
'It's a good ride to get,' said Atzeni. 'He's a horse that stays the trip and he's only young. He's done nothing wrong so far and it's a really good ride.
'He won over the mile and a half the last day. I know they didn't go really quick and it turned into a bit of a sprint, but in these mile and a half races they never go a gallop here anyway, so it could set up very similarly and he's a horse who has quite a bit of speed.
Stayer on the rise? 👀
Bundle Award outstays rivals to win the six-runner G3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup over 2400m for @zpurton and John Size at Sha Tin! 🏆#LoveRacing | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/uZm3KMPD9j — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 4, 2025
'He stays but he's got quite a bit of pace, so if it turns into a bit of a sprint like it did the last day, it will suit him.'
Atzeni will have his first sit on Bundle Award in a Sha Tin dirt trial on Friday morning, with superstar miler Voyage Bubble and Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) winner Cap Ferrat also using the 1,200m hit-out as a stepping stone to the Champions & Chater Cup.
Voyage Bubble, who is looking to sweep the Hong Kong Triple Crown, and British raider Dubai Honour shape as the horses to beat come May 25.
'Voyage Bubble has got to step up in trip, which is obviously a question mark, but with the class that he has, he probably doesn't need to stay to win it,' said Atzeni.
The champ Via Sistina claims the G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes with ease, equalling Winx's record of 7 Group 1's in a season! 🤩 What a mare!@cwallerracing | @mcacajamez | @YulongInvest | @aus_turf_club | @WorldPool pic.twitter.com/oMBNGpAyv8 — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 12, 2025
'Dubai Honour gets this trip very well and last time behind Via Sistina [in the Group One Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2,000m) at Randwick], although he had a bit of a tough trip, he never gave up and kept going all the way to the line. He's a very smart horse.'
Triumphant aboard the improving Crimson Flash at Happy Valley on Wednesday night, Italian jockey Atzeni heads to Sha Tin this Sunday with a full book of 10 rides as he chases the one victory he requires to notch a century of Hong Kong successes.
Ng shows signs of life
Pierre Ng Pang-chi was another to taste success at the city circuit's midweek meeting and it was a much-needed breakthrough for the third-season trainer.
A runaway leader in the trainers' title for much of last season before being pipped by Francis Lui Kin-wai at a pulsating season finale, Ng also hit the ground running this campaign before hitting a brick wall in recent months.
After enjoying a share of the premiership lead as recently as February, Ng has slid down to eighth on the table after managing only three wins in March and one in April.
Cambridge is off the mark in Hong Kong! 🤝
Formerly trained by Aidan O'Brien, the Irish import was G3-placed at @LeopardstownRC before joining Pierre Ng's stable at Sha Tin... 🇮🇪 @JerryChau15 @AtTheRaces | #HappyWednesday | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/ZO6l9DHJMX — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 14, 2025
The victory of Cambridge on Wednesday night was Ng's first in 65 runners and six weeks – the longest drought among the training ranks.
While it's well known how difficult it is to contend for titles in consecutive seasons in Hong Kong as horses rise through the ratings to unsustainable marks, Ng's drop off in form has been an alarming one.
It will be interesting now whether he can build some late-season momentum or if he saves most of his bullets for another title push next campaign.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
2 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong's fencing world champion Ryan Choi arrives home ‘with grateful heart'
Hong Kong's newly crowned world fencing champion Ryan Choi Chun-yin returned to the city on Monday and expressed his gratitude after his triumph in Georgia last week. Speaking on his arrival at Hong Kong International Airport, 27-year-old Choi described his relief and joy after reaching the pinnacle of his sport. Having so often been overshadowed by Cheung Ka-long, Hong Kong's two-time Olympic champion, Choi not only won a world men's foil title before Cheung but also dethroned his teammate to become the world No 1. 'I am grateful now, having always missed out by a little in my career,' Choi said. 'So many times, I felt it was going to be my day, but it was never me. Ryan Choi (right) celebrates his victory over Kirill Borodachev in Tbilisi. Photo: AFP 'I have never felt so fulfilled. This is the first time I feel that God is really good to me. I really have nothing to complain about. I will now continue my career with a grateful heart.' The first Hongkonger even to reach a world final, Choi last Wednesday beat Kirill Borodachev of Russia 15-9 in Tbilisi to become his city's first world champion.
South China Morning Post
3 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Why is Chinese football developing so slowly? AC Milan academy coach gives 1 reason
China's failure to impose itself on the football stage is an issue that continues to baffle many in the game. Advertisement Despite its vast size and population, it has failed to qualify for a men's World Cup since 2002 and will once again miss out on the 2026 edition after finishing behind Indonesia in qualifying. Andrea Galbiati is a coach at AC Milan's academy in Hong Kong, having recently been transferred from his post in Beijing – and he highlighted some of the issues he felt have been holding the country's youth development back. 'When you're dealing with young children, the relationship with the parents is vital,' Galbiati told the Post. 'You need to earn their just; they need to see that their child is happy. 'So not being able to communicate with parents in Beijing because of the language barrier, it made things much more difficult. Andrea Galbiati (right) with Alexandre Pato at AC Milan's academy in Hong Kong. Photo: Handout 'Those 45 or older: let's say 95 per cent don't speak English, which was an issue. It's the same where I'm from in Italy.
South China Morning Post
7 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Who is Yu Zidi, the Chinese 12-year-old making waves at World Aquatics Championships?
Yu Zidi could make history on Monday, when the 12-year-old sensation races for her first medal at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore. Advertisement While Canadian world record holder Summer McIntosh, herself only 18 and an Olympic champion in the event, is the overwhelming favourite in the 200m individual medley final, Yu could become the youngest person to win a medal at an international event in 89 years. That accolade belongs to Denmark's Inge Sorensen, who won bronze less than a month after turning 12 at the 1936 Berlin Olympics in the women's 200m breaststroke. Even if Yu misses the podium on Monday, she still has the 200m butterfly and the 400m medley – her best event – to fall back on. The youngster could also be selected for the relays. Yu began to make waves in China in 2024, and within a year, she was among the fastest in the world in her three events. Yu Zidi prepares to compete in the 200m individual medley heats in Singapore on Sunday. Photo: AP From hitting international headlines to qualifying for the world championships and being tutored by an Olympic champion, here is everything you need to know about the swimming sensation.
