Andrea Atzeni is excited about his prospects of adding to his seasonal tally at Happy Valley on Wednesday night before turning his attention to his first ride on Helios Express in Sunday’s Group Three Celebration Cup (1,400m).

Sitting on two wins from the first four meetings, the Sardinian jockey heads to the city circuit armed with eight rides before teaming up with John Size’s multiple Group One placegetter Helios Express.

Hugh Bowman has been the consistent sprinter’s regular rider for most of the past three seasons, but his decision to ride Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) winner Invincible Ibis before his hip injury paved the way for Atzeni to pick up the ride.

“It’s a good ride to get,” Atzeni said.

“He’s a horse that we all know doesn’t win very often because he keeps bumping into a good one [in Ka Ying Rising]. Obviously they’re trying to avoid him going up to 1,400m and he’s pretty consistent.

“He might just take a run like he usually does, but he’s ready to go to the races. If he can get the first half of the race right, he can finish off pretty strongly. He seems in good order, so hopefully he can run well.”

Atzeni identified Danica’s Choice as his most exciting prospect at the Valley, with the Manfred Man Ka-leung-trained import set to resume in the first section of the Class Three Mount Butler Handicap (1,200m).

He will bid to continue his hot form after transferring to Man and having blinkers added late last season, which led to an impressive course and distance win in June and close second to Harmony N Blessed at the season finale.

Danica’s Choice boosted Atzeni’s confidence with a blistering trial win on the Sha Tin dirt by almost five lengths last Friday week.

“I think he’s a promising horse. He just got touched off the last run of the season by Harmony N Blessed, but I think it was a lack of experience,” Atzeni said.

“He’s a bit young and immature and once I couldn’t pull away from Harmony N Blessed, that old horse outmuscled me. His trial was very good and hopefully there’s a bit more to come.”

Wukong Jewellery will race for the first time since bleeding from both nostrils in March when he tackles the second section of the Mount Butler Handicap.

The Size-trained galloper showed potential last term with a dominant 1,400m triumph at Sha Tin and a close second to Smart Golf under Atzeni last start.

“He’s a lovely horse. He was supposed to run on Sunday and the meeting got cancelled, so John has moved him to Wednesday,” Atzeni said.

“I thought his trial the other day was very impressive, so I’m looking forward to getting back on him. He’s won at Sha Tin, but I don’t think the Valley will be an issue and we’ve got a good draw, which is a big help.”

While Wukong Jewellery has drawn well in barrier two, another of Atzeni’s top rides Georgian Sigma did not fare so well when copping gate 12 for the Class Four Island Handicap (1,000m).

“That’s a shame because he’s got speed. He jumped well last time and got in a good position, but we got racing quite early with a bit of pressure coming into the straight, so we had to commit a little bit sooner than we wanted,” Atzeni said of the Tony Cruz-trained sprinter, who ran third to Jumbo Blessing first up.

“But he definitely needed the first run, so he’s entitled to come on for it a bit. If he can overcome the draw, I definitely think he’s a great chance.”

Perfect Pairing, Matzden, California Moxie, Stunning Bundle and Ka Ying Generation are Atzeni’s other midweek rides.