Andrea Atzeni capped a memorable and emotion-charged weekend with victory in the Class Two Jinbao Street Handicap (1,200m) on Lucky Encounter at Sha Tin on Sunday.

The triumph on David Hayes’ consistent sprinter came just 24 hours after his Group One Sydney Cup (3,200m) win on Circle Of Fire at Randwick.

In an emotional result, Atzeni dedicated the Sydney Cup victory to his late friend Stefano Cherchi, who died earlier this month from injuries sustained in a race fall in Canberra.

Atzeni embraced Cherchi’s family immediately after booting home Circle Of Fire.

“It was a great day,” Atzeni said. “I had a funny feeling it was going to happen. [Cherchi’s] parents were there, I ended up picking up a ride in Sydney after being there twice to visit Stefano and I went to his memorial.

“It was just meant to be. It was great for [Cherchi’s family] to be there and I’m sure it gave them a little bit of help and a little smile on their faces in these very tough times.”

The Italian jockey made a swift return to Hong Kong and capitalised on a soft lead on Lucky Encounter, dictating terms in a small field which was reduced to seven when nominal favourite, Raging Blizzard, was a late scratching on race morning with lameness.

Lucky Encounter beat Gorgeous Win by a length and three quarters, posting his third victory this season and fifth in his career.

“I knew he was going to have his day eventually,” Atzeni said. “David dropped him back to 1,200m and decided to take the hood off him, which made a big difference.

“We ended up leading, which wasn’t really the plan. Mind you, we didn’t really have any plan.

“When I let him down, he picked up quite nicely and he’s obviously a nice horse. He showed that before, but he just took a bit of time this season to put it all together.”

Hayes was beaming with confidence when Lucky Encounter led unchallenged and shot clear in the straight.

“We’ve had a lot of luck with this jockey leading on my horses,” Hayes said of teaming up with Atzeni again.

“He’s won on quite a few leaders. This horse was in top form today and I think there’s more to come.”

Hayes said Lucky Encounter will be tested again at 1,400m in a Class Two on Champions Day, having run third to Young Champion in his only attempt at seven furlongs last month.

“I think 1,200m is obvious [as his best distance], his record says that, but I do think he’ll get 1,400m,” the Australian handler said.

“We might give him one more try at 1,400m and if that doesn’t work, next season we just train him for a 1,200m specialist.”

Lucky Encounter sealed a double for Hayes after Metro Warrior narrowly beat Yoda’s Choice in the Class Four Dongzhimen Handicap (1,000m) for Derek Leung Ka-chun.

“He can run Class Three times, he had a good barrier [13] and was in top form, so he delivered the goods,” Hayes said. “My horse is very tough. He doesn’t win a lot but always runs well.”

Metro Warrior also clinched a double for Leung, who earlier guided Cody Mo Wai-kit’s Urban Triumph to an upset win at $52 in the Class Five Dengshikou Handicap (1,200m).