'The Melbourne Cup is very special - I'd love to ride in it again' - Andrea Atzeni hoping to secure big-race ride at Flemington

Fresh from riding in the Caulfield Cup, Andrea Atzeni hopes the opportunity of riding in the Melbourne Cup at Flemington on November 5 comes his way again.

Based in Hong Kong, the Group 1-winning jockey finished fourth on Zardozi in the top-level contest and has ambitions of returning to Australia next month for the biggest event in the nation's racing calendar.

Speaking to Racing.com, Atzeni said: "I'd love to ride in the Melbourne Cup again. Being a Hong Kong-based jockey now, it's a lot easier for us to be able to travel. We can come here, ride in the Melbourne Cup on the Tuesday and be back for Happy Valley on the Wednesday."

If Atzeni secures a ride in the Melbourne Cup, it will be the second time he has done so after partnering the Roger Varian-trained Ambivalent to finish 17th behind Protectionist in 2014.

"Riding in the Melbourne Cup is an experience, it's second to none," he added. "It's something that the whole country stops for, which doesn't happen anywhere else in the world. 

"To be able to ride in the Melbourne Cup was quite amazing, I was at such a young age. The race didn't go the way I would have liked, but we got around safe and that's the main thing.

"Royal Ascot, all those meetings are brilliant but, like I said, the Melbourne Cup is very special. It would be nice to come back."

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