Andrea Atzeni has one eye on springing a shock at next Sunday’s Longines Hong Kong International Races after securing a ride in all four Group One contests.

Atzeni has triumphed at the top level in seven different countries and will aim to add Hong Kong to his impressive list at Sha Tin’s marquee meeting, with the 33-year-old hopping aboard Taj Dragon, Ka Ying Generation, Lucky With You and Nimble Nimbus.

“It’s always tough to get rides in these sorts of races, so to have a ride in every race is brilliant,” Atzeni said.

“If you’re not in it, you can’t win it, so it’s nice to be there.”

Atzeni booted the Pierre Ng Pang-chi-trained Taj Dragon to Group Three success last season and will look to taste Group One Hong Kong Mile glory aboard the five-year-old.

While he admits stepping back up to the elite level looks a tough assignment for Taj Dragon, Atzeni is confident the galloper is in good shape after impressing in his latest trial on the dirt on Friday morning.

“I thought he trialled really well and he hit the line quite nicely,” Atzeni said.

“We’re under no illusions we’re up against it a little bit, but if we can get a nice pitch and switch him off, hopefully he can come home well.”

Atzeni’s Group One Hong Kong Vase (2,400m) partner, Ka Ying Generation, gave a good account of himself to finish a distant second to Romantic Warrior in the Group Two Jockey Club Cup (2,000m) last time out.

Like Taj Dragon, the son of Churchill also had his final hit out at Sha Tin on Friday morning.

“Ka Ying Generation is in good order and he’s a horse that doesn’t show much at home,” Atzeni said.

“His run the last day behind Romantic Warrior was a good run and it’s quite an open Vase, especially with [Goliath] not coming over. He’s up against it too but I think he can run well.”

Atzeni almost pulled off a surprise front-running win in March’s Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) aboard Ka Ying Generation, with the Ng-trained galloper beaten three-quarters of a length in third.

While Ka Ying Generation steps into Group One company for the first time at start 10 in the city, Atzeni’s Hong Kong Sprint (1,200m) ride, Lucky With You, is no stranger to competing on the big stage.

Frankie Lor Fu-chuen’s sprinter produced a career-best effort to finish second in last year’s renewal of the HK$26 million contest before finding only Victor The Winner too strong in the Group One Centenary Sprint Cup (1,200m) on his next start.

He will look to get back on track when he faces raging favourite Ka Ying Rising.

“It was the same last year with Lucky Sweynesse, we knew he was always going to be hard to beat but we finished second behind him,” Atzeni said.

“[Lucky With You] is a lovely horse to ride and you can put him anywhere in the race. If he can get a nice draw and the rain stays away, he can run a big race again.”

Atzeni’s HKIR rides are rounded off by Nimble Nimbus – who he partnered to Group Three success last season – in the Group One Hong Kong Cup (2,000m).

“I think with these horses like Lucky With You, Taj Dragon and Nimbus Nimbus, you can ride them quietly and try to finish off well,” Atzeni said.

“We’re under no pressure and he’s a horse that has some decent form and hopefully he can run into the first few.”