While he is no more than a bolter’s chance at this year’s Longines Hong Kong International Races (HKIR), Italian jockey Andrea Atzeni is pleased to be involved in the city’s biggest meeting as he continues to embed himself in its riding ranks.

Atzeni is no stranger to HKIR, finishing sixth in the 2014 Group One Hong Kong Cup (2,000m) aboard $9.5 chance Farraaj before emulating that effort with Poet’s Word at $8.2 in the 2017 edition of the city’s richest race.

While Atzeni knows his rides at this year’s marquee meeting will not be starting anywhere near those prices, he is looking forward to jumping aboard Ricky Yiu Poon-fai’s Nimble Nimbus in the Hong Kong Cup and Lucky With You for Frankie Lor Fu-chuen in the Group One Hong Kong Sprint (1,200m) next weekend.

“It’s nice to be a part of those sorts of races, and it’s nice to pick up these rides, even though they’re both outsiders,” said Atzeni, who also punched around long shot Seismos in the 2013 Group One Hong Kong Vase (2,400m). “Ricky Yiu has been a good supporter of mine, and obviously, I’ve won on Lucky With You.”

After making Sha Tin home at the start of the season, Atzeni has made a strong start and sits sixth in the premiership with 12 wins.

Had he assumed that sixth position one meeting earlier – he jumped up the table thanks to his double at Sha Tin last Sunday – Atzeni would have earned a spot in the International Jockeys’ Championship rather than missing out narrowly to Lyle Hewitson when the qualifying period closed on November 22.

“I was riding a winner every meeting for a bit, then I went dry for four meetings or something, so I just missed out,” Atzeni said.

“Then I rode a double last Sunday, but it was too late. It would have been nice to have been a part of it for the first time. It’s a shame to miss out, but it is what it is.”

Before turning his attention to international week, Atzeni has eight rides at Sha Tin on Sunday and believes last-start runner-up Chancheng Prince can make his presence felt in the Class Two Peninsula Golden Jubilee Challenge Cup (1,200m).

“Probably 1,200m might just be on the sharp side, but he has run well over 1,200m before. He loves the all-weather, and it’s nice to get back on him because he ran really well last time. You’d think he would have improved for the run, and it’s a good ride,” Atzeni said.

Atzeni partners Brilliant Way in Sunday’s finale, the Class Three Salisbury Handicap (1,400m), and the galloper comes up against one of the more interesting runners at the meeting, Awesome Fluke.

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Victorious in April’s Group Two WATC Derby (2,400m) at Ascot in Perth for Sydney-based handler John O’Shea, Awesome Fluke makes his Hong Kong debut off a mark of 77.

“He looks like a real staying proposition – 1,400m first up is going to be on the sharp side – but you would like to see him taking some ground off them late, that would be nice,” said Awesome Fluke’s new trainer, Caspar Fownes.

“He looks like a dead-set 2,000m to 2,400m horse. On his trials and everything, he stayed through the line strong. Let’s see. The racing pace up front might suit him and just make him hit the line better.”