Cover image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
Atzeni steals the spotlight
Italian jockey Andrea Atzeni continued his strong push in the Hong Kong jockeys’ championship with a superb four-win haul at Sha Tin Racecourse on Sunday, marking his best result in a days racing in Hong Kong in terms of number of wins.
Atzeni’s quartet began in the Class 5 Somerset Handicap, partnering He Was Me (Needs Further) to victory for trainer Tony Cruz. He followed up in the next race with success aboard Juicy Dragon (Territories {Ire}) for Manfred Man in the Class 4 Rutland Handicap over 1200 metres, before partnering Good Chap (Deep Field), a gelding out of the Group 3-winning 3-year-old Pane In The Glass (Testa Rossa) to win the second version of the race for David Hall.
The fourth victory came in the Class 3 Kowloon Tong Club Trophy Handicap when Atzeni steered another of Deep Field's progeny in Endued to a tenacious win for John Size.
The success lifted Atzeni to 35 wins for the season. Only eight-time champion Zac Purton and Hugh Bowman have ridden more winners so far this campaign. Atzeni’s dominance of the card was further reflected by a second-place finish and two thirds from his 11 rides on the program.
Reflecting on the day, Atzeni told scmp.com, “It was brilliant. I’m picking nice rides and the support is coming. You know what it’s like here - you can never look back. You have to keep looking forward.”
“It was brilliant. You know what it’s like here - you can never look back. You have to keep looking forward.” - Andrea Atzeni
Fast Network capitalises in the feature
With superstar sprinter Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) not in the field, Fast Network (NZ) (Wrote {Ire}) stepped up to claim the HK$3.72 million (AU$683,100) Class 1 Essex Handicap over the sprint distance of 1200 metres.
Trained by Dennis Yip and ridden by Purton, the consistent galloper had previously finished behind Ka Ying Rising in both the G1 Hong Kong Sprint and the G1 Centenary Sprint Cup earlier in the season.
Purton rode a patient race and waited for an opening before guiding the gelding through the field to defeat Sky Trust (So You Think {NZ}) and Invincible Shield (I Am Invincible)
Purton praised the performance, explaining to scmp.com, “It was a really nice win, he’s been consistent all season and he was in a race today where he drew barrier one and there was a bit of speed, so there were some things to help him but it’s always really difficult to carry top weight in these races against some nice young horses.
“He still had to turn up but he did it in pretty soft fashion.”
“He (Fast Network) still had to turn up but he did it in pretty soft fashion.” - Zac Purton
Trainer Yip acknowledged the dominance of the division’s star sprinter but was pleased with his horse’s effort.
“Everybody knows that Ka Ying Rising is too strong, everywhere in the world, but my horse is really consistent. I think this race, my horse was only 80%.”
Fast Network was purchased by Wexford Stables for NZ$30,000 from the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Book 2 Sale.
Fast Network winning the Class 1 Essex Handicap | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
Cruz stable fires with treble
Trainer Tony Cruz also enjoyed a standout afternoon, saddling three winners including an impressive victory by Stunning Peach (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in the Class 2 Devon Handicap over 1800 metres.
The 5-year-old, ridden by Angus Chung, had only one rival behind him turning for home but finished strongly after being angled into clear running in the centre of the track. The Irish-bred gelding surged past the field to score by half a length over Beauty Alliance (Starcraft {NZ}).
The victory suggested higher honours could lie ahead, with Cruz confident the horse is capable of competing at Group level.
“I believe this horse is potentially a Group horse and I believe this horse can win a Group Three," Cruz told scmp.com.
“I believe this horse (Stunning Peach) is potentially a Group horse and I believe this horse can win a Group Three." - Tony Cruz
“Today, Angus rode a perfect race.”
Cruz indicated that the Premier Plate later in the season could be the primary target.
“There’s a handicap race coming up over 1800 metres again - 100-rating down - and I’m going to run in those kind of races.”
“The race I’m aiming at is at the end of the season, the Premier Plate. Let’s see what he does then.”
Stunning Peach winning the Class 2 Devon Handicap | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
The stable’s successful day started earlier with He Was Me (Needs Further) winning the Class 5 Somerset Handicap, and then concluded with Winning Ovation (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}) claiming the Class 3 Cumberland Handicap under Alexis Badel and completing the stable treble.
