Buoyed by the success of his countrymen, Italian Andrea Atzeni has arrived in Hong Kong for a three-month stint looking to catapult into one of the most coveted jobs in world racing - retained rider for rising force Qatar Racing.
Already having a breakout year with four Group One victories, Atzeni begins his new tenure on Saturday with seven rides at Sha Tin, competing against fellow Italians Mirco Demuro and Umberto Rispoli - both of whom have found success during short-term stints in recent seasons.
Atzeni's contract had already been arranged when he was approached by Sheikh Fahad al-Thani to replace the retiring Jamie Spencer as lead man at Qatar Racing next year.
"It came out of the blue, but it won't affect me riding here - and when they asked the first thing I told Sheikh Fahad was that I had a three-month contract here and he was very happy for me to take it," Atzeni said.
"He wants me in Dubai for Super Saturday and the World Cup. I am lucky the sheikh understands racing and he wants to see me to do well. He knows riding here will help me, and I'll probably be back here riding his horses at next year's internationals."
Even though Qatar Racing is likely to have at least two runners at next month's international meeting at Sha Tin, the 34-year-old Spencer will partner Trade Storm and Side Glance in what is likely to be his last riding assignment before moving into management with the burgeoning thoroughbred empire.
Even though Atzeni's Asian adventure is a stopover on his way to being Qatar Racing's No 1 jockey in the new year, the natural lightweight was still saying all of the right things on Friday, including how much he wants to learn during the next 12 weeks.
Atzeni said there was a huge difference between Asian and European racing styles, but hopes that his friendship with Demuro and Rispoli can help him settle in.
"It is great to have them here, they are both great jockeys but very good friends also," Atzeni said. "It is a very different style the way they race and the way jockeys ride here.
"They race tight and mentally you need to be sharper riding in Hong Kong. The way we ride in Europe with the bigger tracks and longer straights it is more about getting your horse to relax."
