Andrea Atzeni is optimistic Ka Ying Cheer’s light weight can offset a wide draw and rise in grade in Wednesday night’s Class Three France Galop Cup (1,200m) at Happy Valley.

The Italian jockey will reunite with Pierre Ng Pang-chi’s consistent galloper after they teamed up for fourth in the Class Three Nam Shan Handicap (1,200m) at the city circuit last December.

An impressive Sha Tin winner on debut last October, Ka Ying Cheer returned for his first run this calendar year to fall narrowly short of victory when a neck second to California Touch in the Class Four Mount Butler Handicap (1,200m).

Despite drawing wide in barrier eight on Wednesday night, the Reward For Effort gelding drops 19 pounds from his last run to carry 116.

“I rode him at the back end of last year and he actually ran quite well in a decent race,” Atzeni said.

“His first run back this season was a good comeback run, he finished off strongly. He’s obviously up in grade but he’s got a light weight and on the back of his last run, he should be very competitive. He’s got course and distance form, so hopefully that comeback run will just bring him on a little bit and off a light weight, although he’s up in grade, he should be competitive.”

Atzeni expects to utilise Ka Ying Cheer’s early gate speed in a competitive race featuring Francis Lui Kin-wai’s in-form galloper Copartner Prance, Beauty Infinity and Celestial Colours.

“We’ll have to speak to Pierre and see what he wants me to do,” Atzeni said.

“When I rode him he was quite forward and obviously we’ll have to see what the pace is going to be in the race. Eight is not a great draw, especially around [Happy Valley], but we’re on the A course, fresher ground and we’ll see how the night goes, obviously the early races where the winners are coming from.”

After taking seven rides at Happy Valley, Atzeni will then reunite with another light weight chance, Ka Ying Generation, in Sunday’s Group Three Queen Mother Memorial Cup (2,400m) at Sha Tin.

It will be the Ng-trained gelding’s first appearance since his brave third to Massive Sovereign in the Hong Kong Derby (2,000m), with Atzeni’s bold front-running ride almost paying off.

With a rating of 83, Ka Ying Generation will get a major advantage under handicap conditions over multiple Group One victor Russian Emperor, who boasts a rating of 117.

“Off the back of his Derby run, with a light weight – I know he’s stepping up to a mile and a half, but he should have every chance,” Atzeni said.

“These distances or any distances, when you gain weight from some of these top horses it’s a big advantage and he’s a young, up-and-coming horse that could be anything.”

Senor Toba, Money Catcher, Five G Patch, Moments In Time, Running Glory, La City Blanche, Chill Chibi, Natural Storm, Unbelievable and Turin Mascot will also feature in the Queen Mother Memorial Cup.