Blake Shinn says you need a champion to win the Cox Plate and is hoping Antino is that horse.
The Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday has long been regarded as Australia’s weight-for-age championship and Shinn believes he is on the right horse to give him his first win in the race, which will be run for the final time on the current Moonee Valley circuit.
Shinn came close in 2017 aboard Humidor, almost upsetting the fairytale fourth Cox Plate victory of the champion Winx.
“This race really has everything year after year,” Shinn said.
“There is always a great story about it and there is so much history about it.
“It is what we call the weight-for-age championship of our sport at 2000 metres. It is the best of the best and hopefully me and Antino can come out on top.
“I think he’s a horse that deserves all the accolades, but it won’t be easy with the reigning champion Via Sistina, but I feel he’s good enough to do it.”
The perceived lack of pace in Saturday’s race is of no concern to Shinn who said he would go out and ride his own race.
One thing he knows is Antino can make a long-sustained run and keep going at the business end.
“Antino, he is quite adaptable. He has got a turn of foot. He’s not a one-paced horse,” Shinn said.
“He has that ability to make a mid-race move and he can sustain a really long run when I need him to do it.
“He’s now at a fitness level where I can make two runs on him, if need be, but I won’t be able to assess that until I get out there and get the feel of the race.”
Shinn said Antino had gone to new heights since his demolition in the Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield last year.
While Antino has been winless this campaign, Shinn said the way the gelding has been racing shows he is right on target, especially after finishing second in the Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 4.
“His run in the Turnbull, in my opinion was incredible,” Shinn said.
“He had a kilo more than Sir Delius, two, three and four kilos more than the opposition in that race.
“He covered ground and was right there to the end. It was the run of a genuine weight-for-age horse and that’s set him up well for this test on Saturday.
“It all comes down to luck in running, circumstances and hopefully we can give him a smooth passage, and he gets his opportunity and with a bit of luck he’s good enough.
“You need a champion to win this race and hopefully Antino can prove to be one.”
