Andrea Atzeni has got the late call up to ride in next Sunday’s Group One Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2,400m) aboard last year’s Group One Hong Kong Vase (2,400m) hero Giavellotto.
The Sardinian won a Group Two on the six-year-old in 2023 and with Oisin Murphy mooted for the ride on Japanese hopeful Byzantine Dream, trainer Marco Botti has turned to another familiar face in Atzeni.
“He is a horse I’ve known from back home and I won a Group Two on him. I’ve ridden him a few times and it looks like he’s going to race on good ground, which is why they’ve taken the chance,” said Atzeni.
“By chance we race on the Saturday, so I’m able to be there for the Sunday, so it has worked out perfectly.”
It will be a quick turnaround for Atzeni, but it is something he is used to and even without the prospect of further rides, the 34-year-old could not be more excited about riding in Europe’s richest race.
