ATZENI EXCITED BY AMERICAN PAL
ANDREA ATZENI has been patiently waiting for a delivery from across the Atlantic.
The half-tonne cargo is a special package he hopes to unwrap in Friday’s Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes at York in the shape of the Wesley Ward-trained Golden Pal.
He is travelling almost 4,000 miles for a dust-up with fellow speed freak Battaash and rapid improver Art Power at one of the highlights of the four-day Ebor meeting, which starts on Wednesday.
The carrot dangled for connections of the Kentucky-based juvenile was the 24lb he’ll get from the race favourite in the sprint.
Outspeeding Battaash on the Norfolk Stakes runner-up is not the only battle Atzeni (right) faces, with his lightest race weight of 8st 1lb looming.
“I need to be 3lb or 4lb less than I normally weigh every day to ride Golden Pal,” he said. “It’s a long time since I have done that.
“You can train as hard as you like but it’s about what you eat mostly.
“It looks like it’s going to be one of the best Nunthorpes for years.
“An easy five furlongs should suit my horse and he’s getting a lot of weight.” Unusually for a jockey of his calibre, Atzeni has not come up against Battaash since Glorious Goodwood’s King George Qatar Stakes two years ago.
It was at that track where Charlie Hills’ beast blitzed his way to a
55.62-second record two weeks ago.
Atzeni feels Golden Pal will go the early gallop and has a live chance of beating the headline act on the Knavesmire.
“If the ground was faster at Royal Ascot they wouldn’t have seen which way he went,” he said.
“Wesley says he’s one of the best two-yearolds he has brought to England.”
Atzeni will be going a little slower the day after the Group One dash, aboard Sky Bet Ebor ante-post favourite Fujaira Prince. He routed the field over the
1m 6f distance at Royal Ascot and makes his much-anticipated return off a 9lb higher mark.
Tattersalls Acomb Stakes runner Darvel is another key member of Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum’s York team Atzeni can look forward to this week.
He said: “Fujaira Prince is lightly raced as he’s had his problems and goes well fresh, so the Ebor has always been the plan.
“I’m looking forward to getting back on him.”
Over the years, Atzeni has made his mark on many quality stayers, including the much-missed Defoe and unbeatable Stradivarius.
He won two Al Shaqab Goodwood Cups on the lastnamed and is one of the favourites to land the coveted Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe ride, if Frankie Dettori joins forces with Enable.
Atzeni had a rear view of the three-time Ascot Gold Cup winner last time, when he squeezed through to charge past his mount Nayef Road for another triumph.
“I thought I had Ryan Moore on Santiago beat and I couldn’t see Stradivarius,” he said.
“I was wondering where he was and then Frankie’s yellow cap appeared. He has some turn of foot for a stayer.
“I have ridden him three times and won on him three times. I will leave the Arc decision to Mr Nielsen the owner but I am available if he needs me.”
FLYING THE AMERICAN FLAG: Golden Pal