The Tony Gollan trained Antino will attract a lot of attention at Eagle Farm on Saturday … and not just because of his good looks.
There is no question Antino is a striking looking son of Redwood with a glittering overall form-line to match … thirteen wins from thirty-two starts, including Group 1 wins in the 2024 Toorak Handicap at Caulfield and that runaway win in last year’s Group 1 Doomben Cup … with $3.4 million banked in prize-money … but it is how he will pick things up form-wise from here that will be the focal point of interest.
A cursory glance at his form will show that Antino has not saluted in six starts in the almost twelve months that have passed since the Doomben Cup win back in May 2025.
A closer look puts that run of results into a very much more positive perspective though.
For starters, all but one of those six starts came in Group 1 company (one run was in a Group 2) which leads naturally to a second notable point, namely the calibre of opposition that Antino has been racing against which can be appreciated when you see the names of the runners who beat him home … that being. amongst others, the likes of Via Sistina, Sir Delius, Autumn Glow, Mr Brightside, Aeliana, Tressurethe Moment, and Tom Kitten.
Also, every one of these were ‘away games’ for Antino, something you have to do to take on the best, but still an additional factor the horse had to cope with.
That is not to suggest that Antino didn’t put in performances that disappointed in that run of results.
He did … most notably in the Cox Plate where he jumped as the $3.80 second favourite, and in his last start in the All Star Mile where his performance was so far below his true standard that Gollan immediately pulled him out of the fray, brought him back home and set about priming him for a Winter Carnival campaign in Queensland.
That campaign starts on Saturday in the Brisbane Handicap where he will race over 1600m.
Queensland has been a very happy hunting ground for Antino, notably in last year’s Winter Carnival in which he carried all before him, winning the Group 2 Hollindale by 3.50 lengths and the Group 1 Doomben Cup by 3.95 lengths, beating Fawkner Park into second place on both occasions.
The Hollindale and the Doomben Cup are races that Antino will target again during the upcoming Winter Carnival on the basis that all is well after Saturday’s run.
Antino’s record has brought him top weight in the Brisbane Handicap.
Set to carry 61kg, the Gollan trained runner will be giving away a weight advantage of between 2,5kg to 8kg to all of his sixteen rivals.
Antino has drawn barrier number three, a draw that most would welcome, but it might make no difference to Antino, who isn’t renowned for the gate speed.
The jockey / horse relationship is not as settled as it once was.
Ben Thompson, who takes the reins on Saturday, is the third jockey to ride Antino in his last three starts (after Tommy Berry and Jamie Melham) … with Blake Shinn, who rode Antino ten times out of twelve starts between September 14, 2024 to October 25, 2025 … including at Sha Tin in Hong Kong … currently still sidelined, recovering from a broken leg.
Antino currently sits on the second line of betting at $7.50 with the more than useful Miss Joelene.
The Mick Price and Michael Kent (Jnr) trained Welwal, who won the Doncaster Prelude over 1500m last time out, has been marked up as the race favourite at $4.40.
