Latest news with #AndreaAtzeni
South China Morning Post
18-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Blazing Wukong lights up turf for Ricky Yiu as Andrea Atzeni raises bat at Sha Tin
Blazing Wukong and Andrea Atzeni get up in the nick of time at Sha Tin. Photos: Kenneth Chan Classic Series assignments could await the promising Blazing Wukong after his taking debut win in the Class Four The Hilltop In The Valley Handicap (1,200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday. Going off at $5 on the back of some interesting trials, Blazing Wukong was settled towards the back early on under Andrea Atzeni and looked to be going nowhere quickly when racing greenly at the 400m pole. As the leaders began to tire, Atzeni managed to galvanise his willing partner and the pair burst through between horses to grab Wonderstar approaching the line, ultimately winning going away by half a length. It was a performance that left trainer Ricky Yiu Poon-fai with plenty of hope that he has a good one on his hands. Impressive debut, Blazing Wukong! 👏 Ricky Yiu's Toronado gelding charges to a smart first-up win as @Atzenijockey registers his 100th victory in Hong Kong... 🍾 #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 18, 2025 'He was second-last and to make up that amount of ground in the straight – he has a huge stride and responded well,' said Yiu. 'I've always been a believer that he will do well – he will get a mile. 'This year he'll stay in this class, we only won by half a length.' There were plenty of reasons for Atzeni to smile too, with the Sardinian bringing up his 100th Hong Kong winner on Blazing Wukong. 'It's great to get to that number. I didn't realise I was that close,' Atzeni said. 'I had obviously forgotten the three winners I had ridden 10 years ago. HK Racing News Get updates direct to your inbox Sign up Best Bets Racing News By registering you agree to our T&Cs & Privacy Policy Error: Please enter a valid email. The email address is already in use. Please login to subscribe. Error, please try again later. THANK YOU You are one the list. 'To get to 100 is pretty good. It's great to do it with Ricky and owner Jason Chan [Kam-kwan] is a good friend of mine. I've ridden Nimble Nimbus for him and this horse is a nice one.' Tsuen Wan Glory is far too good with Britney Wong in the opener at Sha Tin! #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 18, 2025 Earlier on Sunday, Britney Wong Po-ni and Manfred Man Ka-leung burst out of the barriers to steal away the first two races on the card. Their perfect start began with Tseun Wan Glory's comfortable success in the Class Five Celebrating Timeless Tradition Handicap (1,400m). Wong stalked leader Happy Tango down the back straight and turning into the lane, she pounced and drove her mount into an unassailable lead. Things got even better just 30 minutes later when Patch Of Watch was given an expertly judged front-running ride to fend them all off in the Class Five Ownership Pride Handicap (1,200m). Britney Wong wins the first two races! 🔥 Our apprentice grabs an eighth victory on the dirt course this season as she guides Manfred Man's Patch Of Watch to a second career success... #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 18, 2025 Wong crossed over to the rail early from gate nine on the I Am Invincible galloper and never looked back, with the jockey still swinging on the bridle turning into the home straight. In a race where few got involved, Wong kept up the gallop and held off Hinokami Kagura by two lengths. It continued a solid season for apprentice Wong, who heaped praise on Man for all the chances she has been given. 'Very good double to start off the day,' Wong said. 'I'm grateful for all the opportunities Manfred has given me. It was all smiles for Britney Wong and Manfred Man after their double. '[Patch Of Watch] has matured a lot. He has always had ability but he was mentally immature and not quite settled but now he knows what his purpose is in Hong Kong.' Man was quick to return the compliment to Wong, who now sits on 16 wins for the campaign. 'It's been over a year [since Tsuen Wan Glory last won]. He carried no weight – he had 116lbs minus 10lbs for Britney's claim. The 10lbs off made the difference,' said Man.
South China Morning Post
17-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Ricky Yiu unveils debutant Blazing Wukong ahead of Triple Crown bid with Voyage Bubble
Ricky Yiu (centre) is confident Blazing Wukong will figure prominently on debut on Sunday. Photos: Kenneth Chan Veteran handler eyes first-up victory with smart trialler a week before Group One bid with stable star Gearing up for his shot at Triple Crown history with Voyage Bubble next week, Ricky Yiu Poon-fai will unveil an intriguing newcomer in Blazing Wukong at Sha Tin on Sunday. The veteran handler has stable star Voyage Bubble on track for the Group One Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m) on May 25, with the four-time Group One victor bidding to join River Verdon as the only winners of Hong Kong's Triple Crown. But first, Yiu will take a seven-strong team to Sha Tin on Sunday including debutant Blazing Wukong in the Class Four Hilltop In The Valley Handicap (1,200m). The Toronado three-year-old has shown promise in his five trials at Conghua, including a pair of fast-finishing seconds on turf and a closing third on the dirt in his latest hit-out. 'He's a pretty straightforward sort of a horse,' Yiu said. 'He's had [five] trials before having his first start and his trials have been promising. The feedback on this horse is positive. He's good as gold.' Blazing Wukong has drawn barrier eight for his race debut, with Andrea Atzeni booked for the ride. While the newcomer has generally raced off the speed in his trials, Yiu is happy to let Atzeni make the call on race tactics. 'I'm going to leave it to the jockey. It depends on how quick they go. I don't want to force him or tie him down to any riding instructions, he's a young horse,' Yiu said. Voyage Bubble tuned up for his @StanChart Champions & Chater Cup test with a barrier trial this morning as he aims to become Hong Kong's second #TripleCrown winner EVER! 🏆 📍 Sha Tin, 25 May | #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 16, 2025 Blazing Wukong carries the black, red and yellow colours of owner Jason Chan Kam-kwan, who races Group Three winner Nimble Nimbus with Yiu. The unexposed galloper strikes a winnable race to start his career, with debut runner-up Rainbow Seven and last-start third placegetter Club Ace boasting the strongest recent form. Joyful Friendship, The Concentration, Rising Force, Volcanic Spark, Jolly Ruler and Winning Data are the other Sha Tin runners for Yiu, who was pleased with Voyage Bubble's closing fourth under Matthew Poon Ming-fai in a dirt trial on Friday. 'After this trial, we'll just keep him as happy as possible and keep him ticking over until race day,' Yiu said.
South China Morning Post
15-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Andrea Atzeni hoping Bundle Award can complete historic 2,400m double in Champions & Chater Cup
Andrea Atzeni will be hoping Bundle Award can become the first horse to parlay Group Three Queen Mother Memorial Cup (2,400m) success into Group One Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m) glory in the same season when he jumps aboard the progressive galloper for the first time next weekend. 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 — 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 — 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 — 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.
South China Morning Post
31-03-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
The Hong Kong Racing Postscript: who's hot, who's not and the best of March
Jockey Andrea Atzeni celebrates his win on Lifeline Express with trainer John Size and connections. Photos: Kenneth Chan Another Hong Kong Derby was run and won, several jockeys continued to capitalise on Zac Purton's absence and a master trainer's surge at the top of the championship continued in what was a busy March. The Post analyses the jockeys and trainers who had a month to remember or one to forget, as well as the most outstanding victory and winning ride. Who's hot? Andrea Atzeni was the big riser in the jockeys' championship in March, booting home 10 winners from 51 rides at a superb strike rate of 19.6 per cent to charge into third in the standings. The Italian rider missed two meetings early in the month through suspension but returned with doubles at three consecutive meetings, before adding another brace on the dirt last week on his 34th birthday. Birthday double! ✌️ Celebrating his 34th birthday, @Atzenijockey moves to 35 wins this term with a brace tonight at Sha Tin as John Size's Must Go claims a fourth dirt course victory... #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 26, 2025 Hugh Bowman maintained his healthy break from the pack in second place in the championship, adding nine winners from 64 rides at a 14 per cent strike rate. From a trainer's perspective, John Size reigned supreme once again with an incredible 13 winners from 74 starters at a strike rate of 17.5 per cent. The 12-time champion Hong Kong handler started March one win behind title leader David Hayes, but now leads his fellow Australian by six. Ricky Yiu Poon-fai was next best with seven wins, including Sunday's Group Two Chairman's Trophy (1,600m) with Straight Arron, to leap from fifth to third in the championship standings. Owner Karen Lo Ki-yan also deserves a mention here – on back-to-back Sundays to end March, she won the Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) with Cap Ferrat and the Chairman's Trophy with Straight Arron. Who's not March was no kinder than the previous month to Jerry Chau Chun-lok, who is carrying a winless streak of 71 rides after failing to hit the board again. The young jockey had to settle for second six times in March, suggesting a drought-breaking success is not far away. Karis Teetan ended his own big drought of 50 winless rides when he broke through on Ace Power at the Valley, but that was his only success of the month. The Mauritian can count himself unlucky to not have notched more wins after racking up an astonishing 23 placings for the month. In contrast to Size and Yiu's successful months, veteran handler Tony Cruz battled with just one victory – California Star on the dirt last week. Cruz had plenty of placings, including seven seconds, so he wasn't far off a better return. Michael Chang Chi-wang also managed just one win in March. Win of the month The first race of March produced arguably the best debut winner of the season so far, with Justifying backing up his sizzling trial form to romp home down the straight. After jumping quickly from barrier four to cross to the outside rail in front, the Caspar Fownes-trained gelding surged clear once Luke Ferraris asked him for an effort en route to a brilliant victory by three and three-quarter lengths. Smashed 'em! 🔥 Justify gelding Justifying wins comfortably on debut at Sha Tin with @LukeFerraris and Caspar Fownes... #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 2, 2025 The son of Justify's win was just as impressive on the clock, running more than a second inside standard time when clocking 55.67 seconds over the 1,000m. It has also proven to be a handy form race, with runner-up Super Strong Kid and third-placed Jumbo Treasure notching strong triumphs at their subsequent starts. Ride of the month Angus Chung Yik-lai deserves a lot of credit for California Star's miraculous triumph last week. The reigning Tony Cruz Award winner took the $20 shot back to last and he was unbalanced when the maiden galloper laid into the inside rail near the 750m. That's incredible, California Star! 😳 Tony Cruz's galloper makes an almighty run from last position on the fence with @angusylchung to grab a first win at Sha Tin... #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 26, 2025 Chung saved ground along the rail early in the straight before coming off the inside to make his way through the field. He then had to switch back towards the inside to spear California Star through a tight gap between two rivals passing the 100m, finding room to launch a late run to score by half a length. Bowman's winning mid-race move on M Unicorn at the Valley and James McDonald's pearler aboard Fast Network at the start of the month were also outstanding rides.
