Mark Zahra the beneficiary of stewards room suspension on Sydney's Group 1 finale day.
Whether it is considered an ambitious move or not to take on the All Aged Stakes so soon, Tony Gollan has just as higher aims for Antino closer to home as the topline Queensland galloper returns to the races this Saturday.
Antino trialled last week at Eagle Farm finishing behind Rothfire with a heavier staff rider aboard, and since then Gollan has been happy for his versatile six-year-old to line up in the Group 1 All Aged over the 1400-metre trip at Randwick before a campaign over longer trips in Brisbane.
“He was getting a bit of kickback in that trial and the data from it is really good,” Gollan told RadioTab.
“He’s not a horse that likes to get back on that Eagle Farm track when it is kicking back a lot of sand but he closed off well and his recovery was good.”
Mark Zahra will take the ride on Antino this weekend after regular jockey Blake Shinn received a ten meeting suspension from a charge of careless riding aboard Nostringsattached at Randwick last Saturday.
“Mark rode him in the Champions Mile and we are fortunate to be able to get a hold of him,” he said with reference to Antino’s second placing in the Group 1 1600-metre feature at Flemington in November.
Described as a disaster by Gollan, Antino struck interference in the Group 1 Hong Kong Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin in December and finished near last.
It was a result far from Shinn and the gelding’s heroics in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) two starts before at Caulfield which earned Antino a career Racing and Sports ratings peak of 124.
Putting the Sha Tin experience behind them, Gollan is ready for Antino to step up in distance further in the Stradbroke Season limelight.
“He’s the fresh legs in the All Aged and building towards the winter carnival,” Gollan added.
“Were his rating is, there aren’t a lot of options and I was keen to give him a good break after what was a really busy winter and spring. He needed to get over such a process.”
Following the All Aged, Antino is likely to head to the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) on May 10, followed by the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) before a possible tilt at the rich Group 2 The Q22 (2200m) at Eagle Farm in June.
“He is such a relaxed horse and if you look at him in the run, he goes to sleep so he gives himself every chance to get a trip,” Gollan said.
“I’d be disappointed if I never gave him to opportunity to get out to those distances.”
Antino heads to Sydney with a strong first-up record of four wins in six outings.
He is rated an $11 chance in all-in markets with Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) winner Briasa the $3.50 favourite.
