Andrea Atzeni expresses confidence in Swift Ascend

By Leo Schlink

Andre Atzeni hopes a light weight and favourable barrier will pave the way for Swift Ascend to offset a class rise and post a third consecutive win when the in-form gelding tackles the HK$2.84 million Class 2 Tai Tong Handicap (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (5 January).

Triumphant in Class 3 under James McDonald at his past two starts, Swift Ascend has surged from 59 in the ratings to 84 to earn a tilt in Class 2, justifying trainer David Eustace’s faith in the Lord Kanaloa five-year-old.

Swift Ascend will carry only 117lb this weekend when he challenges Copartner Prance (135lb), Flying Ace (135lb), Raging Blizzard (131lb), Wunderbar (131lb), Son Pak Fu (128lb), Gorgeous Win (122lb), Full Credit (121lb) and James Tak (117lb).

Atzeni is familiar with Swift Ascend, having partnered him to a narrow second behind Sugar Sugar at Happy Valley in October.

“I had quite a lot to do with him before he ran this season and obviously unfortunate to have missed (riding) him a couple of times, but I got on him at Happy Valley and I was very unlucky that day, he probably should have won,” the Italian said.

“In hindsight, he probably should have been unbeaten this season. Obviously, he’s shown good form at the Valley and he seems like he’s come to Sha Tin, he’s even better. He’s a very straight forward horse and he’s got a nice draw (barrier three) on Sunday, it’s a small field but it’s a very competitive race.

“He’s up a Class 2 but he’s a horse who jumps good, he travels, he gives it all – he’s got to improve but he’s done nothing wrong so far. He’s not flashy but he gets the job done. With the light weight and with the good draw, hopefully we have some luck in running and he’s a horse that could be very, very competitive.”

Swift Ascend is one of three last-start winners in the field along with Raging Blizzard and Full Credit, while Wunderbar was unlucky after being caught wide from barrier 11 last start and will jump gate two on Sunday under Zac Purton.

Harry Bentley hopes Chris So’s strong recent form can continue when he partners Hong Lok Golf in the Class 4 Tai Lam Handicap (1200m).

An impressive debut winner, Hong Lok Golf jumps from barrier nine.

“I think it was a bit of a surprise that he won in the manner he did, albeit not a long distance he won by, but he gave me a really good feel through the line,” the Englishman said. “I think his trials had been pretty good up until his race. I hadn’t been riding him, but they looked pretty promising. The quick pace really suited him and he’s a horse that’s going to get further.

“I think he’s coming into the race in good form. Chris’s (horses) are in flying form, so hopefully this is another one.”

Bentley has five rides for the afternoon, including Jimmy Ting-trained Lo Pan Spirit, who has drawn awkwardly in gate 13 in the Class 3 Broadwood Handicap (1400m).

“Every time I see his draws, I can’t seem to believe that he’s wide again, but it is what it is. He’s got enough early speed to be able to get into an early position and we’ll just have to accept it,” Bentley said of the two-time Sha Tin winner.

“I think we were under the impression 1600m was going to be suitable for him and we’re certainly not ruling it out for the future, but he hasn’t really been finishing his races quite as strongly as we would like.

“Just the last 100m, his stamina has potentially been waning a little bit, so bringing him back to 1400m is going to be suitable. If we can get across and not use too much fuel to do so, he’s going to be there.”

This weekend’s finale includes several potential Four-Year-Old Classic Series candidates including Silo, Bundle Award, King Of Fighters, New Future Folks, Bucephalas and Packing Angel, who will be ridden by Purton who, with 1,803 Hong Kong wins, requires 10 more victories to equal Douglas Whyte’s record of 1,813.

Sunday’s (5 January) 10-race card at Sha Tin starts with the Class 5 Tsam Chuk Wan Handicap (1200m) at 1pm.