Champion European jockey Frankie Dettori has told first time Melbourne Cup rider Andrea Atzeni to expect that next Tuesday's race will have more pressure and atmosphere than even the most notable of days of racing at Royal Ascot.
Atzeni has taken racing by storm in the past two years with the 23-year-old flying into Melbourne on Friday to ride in the Mackinnon Stakes on Saturday. The Italian born jockey will then have his first mount in the Melbourne Cup on imported stayer My Ambivalent.
In the week leading up to his arrival in Australia, Atzeni sought the advice of one-time world champion jockey Dettori in a bid to get significant clues on how Australian racing differs from that in Europe.
"I sat down with Frankie and the first thing he said that I may have experienced some big days at Ascot for pressure and atmosphere but Melbourne Cup day will top it. He said they get a huge crowd and it's a build-up like never before.
"We talked about the Melbourne Cup, we discussed the dimensions of the track and all the lead up and publicity for the Melbourne Cup.
"I had read and heard a lot about the race but after talking to Frankie I have a pretty good idea of what to expect at Flemington," Atzeni said.
Atzeni, born in Sardinia in 1981, comes to Melbourne with a record of 450 winners including seven group 1s and will later this year take over as stable jockey for Qatar Racing when Jamie Spencer retires.
Atzeni, who is one of many European jockeys competing over the four days at Flemington, maintains he was enlightened by Dettori's overview of riding during the carnival.
"He said, and I've noticed this too, that in Australian races jockeys appear to ride tighter than we do at home, but he said that to counter that Australians are excellent horsemen and have the ability to cope with any degree of tightness in a race.
"They have always been an excellent group of jockeys and I'll probably find that for myself when I ride in the Cup.
"From what I've seen from tapes and that sort of thing, the track looks big and spacious," he said.
Ironically, Atzeni's ride on derby day, Farraaj, gave the young jockey his first group 1 in England when they combined to win the Winter Derby at Lingfield.
Farraaj is first up in Saturday's weight-for-age Mackinnon Stakes but Atzeni is confident the international will equip himself well.
"He's a lovely ride but our major stumbling block will be his poor barrier position, but after we get over that obstacle I'm certain he will be competitive."
Atzeni had a different climb to the top than most as the Italian came from a non-racing family with his father working a farm and his mother a nurse.
There was no racing connection, but Atzeni developed a friendship with a classmate who used to ride horses after school.
The youngster enjoyed and excelled to such a degree with the horse connection that he became apprentice to Alduino Botti in Milan, who's the father of Marco Botti.
From there Atzeni impressed many owners and trainers and was soon one of the most sought after riders in England.
And in other news the Darren Weir trained Prince of Penzance winner of last Saturday's Moonee Valley Cup will face a strenuous fitness test before accepting for next Tuesday's $6.2 million Melbourne Cup. Stewards will discuss the fitness issue with the trainer.
And next year's Sydney Cup will now be worth $1.6 million, up $600,000 on last year.
