Andrea Atzeni counts himself lucky to have escaped injury after a mishap on Sunday, but luck certainly wasn’t on the Sardinian jockey’s side when most of his six rides at Sha Tin on Thursday were dealt wide draws.

Atzeni was stood down from Sunday’s final race at Sha Tin after crashing to the turf in the penultimate event when his mount, Chill Buddy, shifted in on jumping and made heavy contact with the right side of the starting gate.

“I landed on my side and banged my head – that’s why they stood me down from the last race,” said Atzeni, who was replaced by Harry Bentley on Armour War Eagle, who ran an unlucky ninth.

“I was surprised – I thought I’d be a bit sore this morning, but I’m fine. I only had a bit of a sore shin and I thought my neck would be sore the way I landed, but it’s fine.

“With these falls, sometimes you can pick up an injury or it can be a bit worse than it first looked, but luckily the doctor cleared me this morning and I rode trackwork and trials.”

Turning his attention to Thursday’s all-weather meeting, Atzeni was optimistic about his book of six rides until the barrier draws were revealed on Monday.

Two of his prime chances – Mojave Desert and last-start winner Kempes – both copped gate 11, Meepmeep drew 12, Impending Legacy drew 10, Sight Supreme will jump from nine and Giddy Up drew seven.

“My draws are horrible. I was hoping for at least one decent draw because I’ve got nice rides,” Atzeni said.

“Anyway, a couple of them go back – Kempes goes back and so does Mojave Desert, but you’d still rather have a decent draw.”

A three-time winner on the dirt, Mojave Desert will be out to continue his consistent form when he tackles the Class Three Pyramid Hill Handicap (1,650m).

The son of I Am Invincible was a dominant course and distance winner last month before running third last start when Mark Newnham landed the trifecta in the Class Two High West Handicap (1,650m).

“If he gets exposed too early, he doesn’t like it. He’s got a kick of about 200 yards and if you draw wide and you come around the field earlier, he gets there but then he flattens out a bit,” Atzeni said.

“He’s been so consistent and he obviously loves the dirt, so he’s a good ride. He’ll be doing his best work at the end, like he always does.”

Kempes returns to the dirt in the Class Three Hebe Hill Handicap (1,200m) off the back of a stunning first-up success on turf.

Sent out a $31.35 roughie, the David Hall-trained import rocketed home from last under a daring Atzeni ride to score an incredible win.

“I don’t think there was any fluke about it. It wasn’t a big surprise,” Atzeni said. “He’s a nice horse. Hughie [Bowman] has trialled him before and always rated him highly. He’s trialled well on the dirt and he won on the dirt in Argentina.

“The way he travelled and quickened the other day, I think the 1,200m with the fast pace really suits him.”

Of his other rides, Atzeni has plenty of time for the Newnham-trained Impending Legacy, who is second up after running seventh on debut at Happy Valley.

“He’s quite a nice horse. He’s trialled well on the dirt and I rode him this morning and he went really nicely,” Atzeni said. “He just got a bit lost first time under lights at the Valley.

“Giddy Up’s comeback run wasn’t bad, it was just a bit of a messy race. He’s another one having his first start on the all-weather who has trialled well on it.”