Andrea Atzeni has pinpointed Harold Win as the pick of his “even book” at Sha Tin on Saturday as he bids to turn his recent near misses into winners.

Atzeni has saluted once from 27 rides this season but has been knocking on the door with six runner-up finishes across the first six meetings.

“It’s a little bit of a steady start regarding numbers but it was nice to get a winner on the board and I’ve had quite a few seconds, which is a little bit frustrating,” Atzeni said. “But as long as we keep knocking on the door, the winners will come.”

The 33-year-old enjoyed a fruitful first full season in Hong Kong in 2023-24, finishing fourth in the championship on 48 wins and landing Group Three victories aboard Taj Dragon and Nimble Nimbus.

He will hop aboard a solid team of six gallopers on Saturday’s 10-race card and believes Harold Win is poised to record his first victory after he found one rival too strong on the opening day of the season.

“He ran very well in his last start and he’s solid – he never runs a bad race,” Atzeni said. “He’s been very consistent without winning, so it would be nice to win a race with him. I think he’s a horse that can improve.

“I sat on him [on Thursday] and he’s come out of the race very well, so it’s about time he got his nose in front.”

Harold Win is yet to finish out of the first four in five starts and has been inching closer to a first career win.

After filling the places at both tracks in July, the Francis Lui Kin-wai-trained gelding was unable to reel in runaway leader Super Fortune on September 8.

While Harold Win has been raised two points for his neck defeat, Atzeni is confident he’s well placed to get into a good early position from barrier six in the Class Four Sha Tsui Handicap (1,200m).

“He’s pretty straightforward,” Atzeni said. “Last time he sat second and he’s a forward-going horse. I’ll speak to Francis and see what he wants me to do, but I wouldn’t be afraid to make the running if there’s no pace in the race.”

Atzeni will capitalise on Karis Teetan’s fleeting visit to Japan for the Group One Sprinters Stakes (1,200m), picking up the ride on last-start winner Volcanic Spark in the Class Three Tsuen Lok Handicap (1,600m).

Volcanic Spark defied barrier 11 to surge home for a second career win on the final day of last season and has been set the task of negotiating gate 12 this time around.

“It’s a good ride to get with Karis being away for the weekend,” Atzeni said. “He’s up in class but he did win over 1,800m from a wide draw, so hopefully he can run well off a light weight.”

Of his remaining four rides, Atzeni is excited to see how Pierre Ng Pang-chi’s debutant, Equatorial, fares in the Class Three Yan Chai Trophy (1,200m).

A two-time winner from four starts for Roger Varian in England, Equatorial is set to make his belated debut after he was sidelined by injury last season.

“I’ve trialled him a few times last season and this season,” Atzeni said. “In his trials, he seems to be travelling quite strong but when he comes off the bridle he goes a little bit through the motions.

“He seems ready to go and he had some decent form in the UK. It will be nice to get him on the track and see how he is because it’s a competitive race.”

Flying Dragon, Leedox and Super Goldi are Atzeni’s other assignments.