Trainer Tony Gollan has earmarked the Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) as the long-range target for star galloper Antino after a stunning victory in the Gr.1 Doomben Cup (2000m) on Saturday in track record time.
Paired with Blake Shinn, the six-year-old son of Redwood (GB) has thrived with a pattern of circling the field and dashing for home early and the tactics again paid full dividends as the near-black gelding surged to a four length triumph over Fawkner Park and Kovalica.
Campaigned predominantly as a sprinter-miler throughout his career, Antino has successfully made the transition to a middle distance galloper this campaign and is the 12th horse to land the Hollindale Stakes-Doomben Cup double.
Antino completed the 2000m in a slick 2:00.88, aided by the usual front-running tactics of Pride Of Jenni, with the star mare labouring into tenth.
“He is the best horse I have trained,” Gollan said.
“I said that a couple of seasons ago before he won a Group One and I was looking like a bit of a fool there and then he finally won the Toorak (Gr.1, 1600m) in dominant fashion.
“To run a track record today, gee a lot of good horses have won Doomben Cups, he puts himself in rare air now and I think he can really go on with it in the spring in Melbourne.
“He is a genuine weight-for-age horse, genuine at 2000m and there is a lot to look forward to. Everything is now set toward the Cox Plate with him.
“What we have seen today is pretty special. He is a very good horse, we’ve got a world-class jockey and I have got a world-class team helping get him ready.”
Winning rider Blake Shinn was delighted to be able to showcase the class of the locally-trained Antino on the big stage in Queensland.
“He's some horse. He told me when he wanted to get rolling about the half mile when I just pulled him off Osipenko's back and it was time to go, and it was a great feeling,” Shinn said.
“He went from about seven (lengths) off them to have the race at his mercy about the 400m and I knew he'd keep that gallop up.
“It's great for Queensland racing to witness Antino at his best here today. It's great for Tony Gollan, and it's great to showcase a horse of his ilk. It's special to be on him.”
Bred by George Kit Ma’s Blossom Trading & Breeding Company Ltd, Antino is by Westbury Stud stallion Redwood.
Out of a full-sister to Group One gallopers Hurrah and Best Gift, Antino’s dam Mahamaya was purchased for just $3,000 in foal to Redwood at the 2018 Karaka May Sale by Logan Salvador on behalf of Ma.
Antino was purchased for $27,000 by his Hong Kong-based owner Jeetu Ramchandani under his New Balance Racing banner at the 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale.
Antino advanced his record to 13 wins from 26 starts with a further six placings and prizemoney of A$3,108,865 with plenty still to come from the exciting galloper. – NZ Racing Desk
