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.

“It’s a quick turnaround but it’s fine, we’re all used to it. I’ll ride here Saturday, get on the plane and arrive in Paris really early in the morning on Sunday, so it really is perfect,” he said.

“He is a good horse, he was very impressive here in the Vase and he won the September Stakes the other day at Kempton, beating Kalpana, who is well fancied for the Arc.

“It’s a pretty open Arc and it’s nice to hopefully be there. I think the declarations are on Tuesday, so getting spare rides will be tough, but I’d have gone there for Giavellotto alone, so that doesn’t bother me.”

Trainer Botti has already earmarked a return to Hong Kong for the Vase on December 14, with last year’s triumph still fresh in the mind.

Another day in Paradise

At Sha Tin on Sunday, Little Paradise set himself up for a tilt at the four-year-old series with a comfortable success in the Class Three Cuckoo Handicap (1,200m).

The promising son of Toronado won his first two career starts last campaign before a pair of defeats, the most recent by a shorthead when flashing home from a long way back.

Similar tactics were employed again, but Zac Purton made sure lightning would not strike twice, making sustained ground in the home straight to win by a comfortable length over Star Rise and long-time leader Ahren.

The sky remains the limit for the Jimmy Ting Koon-ho-trained improver, who will now head to the Classic Series as a strong candidate.

“Zac Purton rode for me with Little Bridge so it is nice to have this connection again,” said owner Ko Kam-piu. “This horse has a lot of quality and as an owner, the target is the four-year-old series.

“I need to discuss this with Jimmy, but I don’t think there will be a problem with this horse stepping up to the mile trip.”

The win was the second leg of a double for Ting, who landed the earlier Class Four Parrot Handicap (1,000m) with Flowing Riches.

Packing a punch

Elsewhere, the well-touted Packing Phoenix made a winning debut in game fashion and he also has his trainer, Francis Lui Kin-wai, dreaming of Classic Series glory.

First home in all four of his trials, the son of Starspangledbanner beat an earlier winner on the card, Ninja Derby, in his most recent outing and the writing was always on the wall in his first competitive start.

Settled second in the run and always travelling powerfully, Zac Purton took over at the 300m pole and the pair fended off a late challenge from Spicy Standard to win by a neck.

Given that rival’s experience, the effort is easy to upgrade and Lui, who scooped the Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) last season with Cap Ferrat, hopes he can aim just as high with Packing Phoenix.

“He is a very, very good horse. I think he just needs a bit more experience - the second horse had that experience but mine is a very good horse,” said Lui.

“It’s hard to say [how much improvement is to come]. We have to see how he comes back after every run. I think it’s sure he will really improve. Hopefully he’s a horse for the four-year-old series.”

The win was part of a treble for Purton, who had endured a quiet spell of 22 rides without a winner prior to Fun N Fun Together saluting in the Class Four Swallow Handicap (1,200m).

Packing Phoenix gave him his double in the next race, before Little Paradise struck on a day that also yielded four placings.