Jockey Blake Shinn produced another masterful ride on Antino as the dashing son of Redwood assumed command of the Gr.2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) rounding the home bend and careered away for a three-and-a-half length victory over Fawkner Park and Kovalica.
The Tony Gollan-trained Group One winner was back in the winner’s circle after a fresh-up 11th in the Gr.1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) on the back of a trip to Hong Kong where he was unplaced in the Gr.1 Hong Kong Mile after striking significant interference in the run.
Trained principally as a miler throughout his career to date, trainer Tony Gollan was keen to test the gelding’s ability to get over a middle distance this campaign, and faced with a Heavy 8 Gold Coast track, Antino passed with flying colours.
“We’d only been to 1800m once before with this horse, but we knew what we had to do with him when we got back from Hong Kong,” Gollan said.
“It was a bit more daring than we’d been previously. We decided to go to Sydney for the All-Aged Stakes but nothing went right for him there. It was always the plan to come here after that, but for the last three weeks I was second guessing myself whether I’d done the right thing.
“Everything at home indicated that we were on track, but I was still nervous about bringing him to the Gold Coast for the first time.
“There have been issues with kick-back and when a horse breaks slowly like he does, there’s always the danger that things won’t go well. But I just told Blake to dare to be brave on him.
“I had him as fit and as well as I could have him second-up, and I’m just really looking forward to the Doomben Cup (Gr.1, 2000m) now in two weeks.
“I have never really trained him to get a trip until this prep. I always had him pinned as a miler, but we’ve put in all the groundwork with him from the minute he got back from Hong Kong, and we might dare to go to the Q22 with him after the Doomben Cup.
“I felt like it would be remiss of me not to test him over a trip and allow him to be a stayer, because his pedigree suggests this sort of trip should really suit him.
“He’s a really funny horse, he’s got his quirks. But he means a lot to me. He’s the best horse I’ve ever trained, and when you trust him he gives it back to you in spades. It was so good to see him deliver today.”
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 12 wins from 25 starts with a further six placings and prizemoney of A$2,508,865. – NZ Racing Desk
