Tony Gollan is not expecting a Toorak Handicap-like performance from Antino this Saturday at the Gold Coast, but he is holding out hope for one later in the campaign.
The classy Redwood gelding will round out his preparations for the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) on May 24 in the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Gold Coast.
Antino resumed with an 11th placing in the All Aged Stakes but Brisbane’s premier trainer is confident his stable star can again produce a performance akin to the 6-1/2-length demolition job he performed on his rivals in last year’s Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m).
“You won’t see that sort of performance second-up in a Hollindale, but you could see something like that in a Doomben Cup, who knows?” he said.
Gollan is happy with how Antino has done since the 1400m Group 1 All Aged Stakes on April 19, when he encountered little luck from barrier one.
The Hollindale Stakes will be just the second time he has raced at 1800m, following a 10th placing in the Five Diamonds in 2023, but Gollan remains confident in his ability to run the trip out strongly.
“It’s always been the plan to go to the Hollindale second-up, just with the way the races fell,” he said.
“He was a pass mark for me in the All Aged, especially the way the race was run.
“Obviously we’ll ride him to give him a bit more room on the Gold Coast and, providing he handles the surface, there’s no reason why he couldn’t run really well.
“He’s definitely fit enough for the 1800. He’s improved out of sight from the trip to Sydney and back and he’ll get there in very good order second-up.”
Antino occupies a place in the $5 second line in Hollindale Stakes betting behind fellow Group 1 winner Buckaroo, who is at $3.50.
