Returning rider Andrea Atzeni admits he “didn’t really give Hong Kong a chance” before he abandoned his first contract but predicts things will be different after he postponed his second stint for nine years.

Atzeni’s Hong Kong record reads three wins from 80 starts, with 78 of those races occurring during five weeks of the Italian rider’s three-month deal from which he withdrew just before Christmas in 2014.

Although Atzeni arrived in Hong Kong nine years ago with four Group One victories and a Qatar Racing retainer on his resume, he entered the Happy Valley and Sha Tin weighing rooms as a 23-year-old youngster.

Looking back at his first Hong Kong adventure ahead of his second escapade in the city, which gets under way with three assignments on Sunday’s opening day at Sha Tin, Atzeni concedes he was ill-prepared in 2014.

“Mentally, I wasn’t quite ready for it, and I didn’t really give Hong Kong a chance at the time,” said Atzeni, who recorded his three city wins aboard Regency Ho Ho, Good Choice and Let Me Go.

“Nine years on, things are different. I’ve travelled the world a lot more. I’ve ridden all over the world. I’m bringing a lot more experience to it. That’s what’s changed. This is a reset, a new challenge.”

Atzeni is a 30-time Group One-winning jockey, posting top-level triumphs in the United Kingdom (16), Ireland (four), Canada (three), France (three), the United Arab Emirates (two), Germany (one) and Italy (one).

Last month, Atzeni steered Simon and Ed Crisford-trained juvenile sprinter Vandeek to upset favourite Ramatuelle and win the Group One Prix Morny (1,200m) at Deauville.

The Italian rider signed off on European soil for the time being with a Listed Hopeful Stakes (1,200m) victory at Newmarket on well-backed Lezoo, who carries the colours of Hong Kong owner Marc Chan.

“The last four weeks before I came here were good,” Atzeni said. “I had a couple of Group Two winners, plus a Group One winner in France, Vandeek, a very promising colt. Also, it was nice to win on my last ride aboard Lezoo for Ralph Beckett and Marc Chan.

“Marc has been very, very successful in England and Ireland. He’s got a lot of good horses there, and obviously, he’s got quite a few horses here.”

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While Atzeni wants to add Hong Kong to his list of Group One-winning jurisdictions, he knows newcomers to the city’s riding ranks must show talent and patience in equal measure to succeed in the unique environment.

“You can’t compare Hong Kong to anywhere else,” Atzeni said. “There’s more Group One racing in Europe. There are Group One races every week, so it’s easier to get the chance of riding in Group One races. I’ll see how it goes. It’d be nice to land a decent horse, but I’ll take it step by step and not get too carried away. All I can do is my best and hope I find a good one.”

Atzeni’s weekend assignments at Sha Tin are aboard Frankie Lor Fu-chuen’s Youthful Deal in the Class One HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup (1,200m), Ricky Yiu Poon-fai’s Precise Express in the Class Three Sunset Peak Handicap (1,400m) and Tony Cruz’s Beauty Crescent in the Class Three Lantau Peak Handicap (1,200m).