Hong Kong-based Italian jockey Andrea Atzeni has been booked to partner British stayer Meydaan in both the Caulfield Cup and the Melbourne Cup.
Atzeni, who rode Zardozi in both Cups last year, will renew his association with trainers Simon and Ed Crisford when he arrives in Melbourne next week.
“He used to ride a lot for us before he went out to Hong Kong and he’s halfway here now, I suppose,” said Paul Holley, the Crisfords’ travelling foreman. “He’ll be coming down.”
The Crisfords have a solid recent record identifying the right Cup contenders for Melbourne: Without A Fight encountered unsuitable heavy ground at Flemington in 2022 before later thriving in Australia, while West Wind Blows went agonisingly close in last year’s Caulfield Cup.
Holley believes Meydaan is still on an upward curve. “He’s a little bit different to West Wind Blows but I think now he’s learning, he’s still learning to race really,” Holley explained. “He was doing it the wrong way round last season but he’s growing up all the time and I think we’re going to see the best of him still to come.”
Despite only two career wins, Meydaan brings appealing form lines, having finished third in the G3 September Stakes at Kempton at his latest start behind Giavellotto and Kalpana. “You look back at that race and they came out, Giavellotto and Kalpana, they both ran great races in the Arc,” Holley said. “It looks good for us really, so hopefully we can have a good run here.”
Holley added that Meydaan will have a look around Caulfield before tackling the Cup there four days later.
Meydaan is currently a $9 chance for the Caulfield Cup and a $34 hope for the Melbourne Cup with online bookmakers.