Andrea Atzeni hopes a famous family formula can help him etch his name into Group One Melbourne Cup (3,200m) history when he hops aboard Zardozi at Flemington on Tuesday.

Atzeni will ride in the Melbourne Cup for the second time in his career when he teams up with the James Cummings-trained Zardozi, who finished fifth in Saturday’s Group One Empire Rose Stakes (1,600m) on Victoria Derby Day at Flemington.

By running Zardozi three days before the Melbourne Cup, Cummings is attempting to replicate the formula made famous by his legendary grandfather Bart, who swore by using Victoria Derby Day as a platform for the Flemington feature.

Bart Cummings won the Melbourne Cup on 12 occasions and 11 of his winners ran on the Saturday before the contest.

Zardozi has also won after a quick turnaround, with her Group One Victoria Oaks (2,500m) win at Flemington last year coming with only five days between runs.

“I thought it was a nice prep,” Atzeni said. “The quick return is not something that I’m familiar with but it’s something that works in Australia and it’s been done before.

“James knows what he’s doing and she ran a nice race. She’s got a good draw, which is a big help, but there’s 24 runners over two miles, so you need plenty of luck.”

Atzeni returns to Flemington after he finished 17th on Ambivalent in the 2014 renewal of the Melbourne Cup.

He partnered Zardozi to a respectable fourth in the Group One Caulfield Cup (2,400m) on her penultimate start.

“She finished off quite nicely on a track that she likes,” Atzeni said of her latest run. “The ground was pretty fast and that’s what she’s going to be met with on Tuesday, so she seemed to handle it fine.

“Hopefully we can get a nice pitch and settle. Once she settles I think we can finish quite strongly.

“It’s a very open race. There are at least 10 horses that can win it and then the other 14 can also find something more to challenge.”

Zardozi is a general $12 chance with overseas bookmakers, while Buckaroo and Vauban are vying for favouritism at around the $6.50 mark.

The Chris Waller-trained Buckaroo kept on well in the closing stages when he finished second in the Caulfield Cup on his latest start, while Irish raider Vauban arrives Down Under after a runner-up effort in September’s Group One Irish St Leger (2,800m) at the Curragh.

Seven-time Hong Kong champion jockey, Zac Purton, rides $19 shot Land Legend in the contest, while Karis Teetan will hope to bring a Melbourne Cup trophy back to Sha Tin after he rides outsider Mostly Cloudy.

The 24-runner field will turn for home at just after midday Hong Kong time.

“It’s a race that stops the country. I’m really looking forward to it and actually enjoying the moment,” Atzeni said.

“Riding in this race is what us jockeys want to do. It’s good to ride in Hong Kong but it’s great to go overseas and be part of these big races.”