New Zealand has a strong association with the Gr.1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m), and Kiwi-bred gelding Antino will be out to continue that record at Sha Tin on Sunday.
New Zealand-bred or sourced horses have won five of the last seven editions of the race, with both Beauty Generation (2017 and 2018) and Golden Sixty (2020, 2021and 2023) capturing the imagination of local racing fans during their respective dominating runs.
Beauty Generation was bred in New Zealand by Greg Tomlinson under his Nearco Stud banner, and was purchased out of Highden Park’s 2014 New Zealand Bloodstock Select Yearling Sale draft, while Golden Sixty is also a New Zealand Bloodstock graduate, with the Australian-bred gelding sold through Riversley Park’s 2017 Ready to Run Sale draft.
Golden Sixty’s dominant reign came to a close earlier this year when the multiple Hong Kong Horse of the Year was retired, and Queensland trainer Tony Gollan took that as a sign to try and target one of Hong Kong’s most coveted prizes.
“Obviously when Golden Sixty retired it opened that mile up,” Gollan told Trackside.
By Westbury Stud resident stallion Redwood, Antino was bred by George Kit Ma's Blossom Trading & Breeding Company Ltd, and was bought by Jeetu Ramchandani under his New Balance Racing banner out of Cheltenham Stables’ 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale draft for what has subsequently become a bargain price of $27,000.
He was initially trained in Australia by Mark Schmetzer and then Adam Campton before joining the stable of leading Queensland trainer Tony Gollan, and the gelding has taken him on the ride of a lifetime.
Antino has won 10 races for Gollan, including the Listed The Wayne Wilson (1600m), Gr.3 Sandown Stakes (1500m), Gr.2 Victory Stakes (1200m) and the Gr.1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield in October, which secured his berth to Hong Kong, and a runner-up performance behind fellow Kiwi-bred Mr Brightside in the Gr.1 Champions Mile (1600m) at Flemington last month cemented the decision.
“What was a bit of a dream at the start when we were talking about it (Hong Kong Mile), it didn’t really become a reality for me until we got his form up to where I needed it to be in the spring,” Gollan said.
“Once he had that consistent Group One weight-for-age form around him, I thought the dream we spoke about could become a reality.
“It (spring preparation) has gone perfect. I wanted quite a busy time going into the Toorak, I want to do the two-week, two-week, two-week routine. Then I was really keen off that to go four weeks into Flemington. If I thought I could get him to Flemington in as good a shape, or close to Toorak day, I could probably do the same thing coming here (Hong Kong).
“That is what we have tried to emulate. When we see him parade on Sunday, hopefully he will look as good as what we saw him at Flemington. To me he looks fantastic at the moment.”
Gollan said he has Antino in peak order, and now the rest is up to the horse and jockey Blake Shinn.
“For me, most importantly, all of his work was already done basically back home in Australia. It was just about getting him here, settling him in and keeping him happy,” Gollan said.
“It’s all up to him and how he steps away.”
The Boomer Bloodstock-managed horse will jump from barrier four after the bloodstock agency’s Craig Rounsefell drew the gate at the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races barrier draw at Sha Tin on Thursday.
“Tony gave me strict instructions (to draw) between four and eight, so I think he will be happy,” Rounsefell said after the draw.
“The owner, Mr Ramchandani, is a member of the (Hong Kong) jockey club and we have had our sights firmly set on this race all preparation and Tony has left no stone unturned to get a result.
“We have got the best jockey in the world on, Blake Shinn, so I think from that barrier he will do his magic and hopefully we will be there at the finish.”
Gollan has been enjoying his time in Hong Kong, and said the experience has opened his eyes to the magnitude of the renowned carnival.
“I didn’t understand the enormity of this week until I have been here and been a part of it,” he said. “I know what Melbourne Cup week is like, it is very big, and Sydney and The Championships and The Everest Carnival, and our own Winter Carnival in Brisbane, but this is something else. It is a world-class event.”
Gollan has plenty of time for New Zealand-breds and said patience is the key virtue with the breed, and he has shown plenty of that with the six-year-old, and they are reaping the rewards.
“They are tough. They love their racing and love their work,” he said. “I think a lot of them, if you look after them when they are a bit younger and they can furnish into older horses, you can see what you can see with Antino. He is six now and he is in his career peak.”
Gollan said Antino is truly a horse of the world and will have connections in three different countries barracking for him on Sunday.
“Born in New Zealand, raced by a guy in Hong Kong, and trained out of Queensland, Australia,” Gollan said. “I am really happy for his owner and connections to enjoy what is their local big day.” – Trackside.co.nz
